Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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383. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage contribution homeowners availing of the pyrite remediation scheme have had to make towards the full cost of repairing their homes; and if the homeowners availing of the scheme are compensated for relocation costs during the repair works to their homes. [36771/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency.

The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite in concrete blocks. 

The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.

The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol.  In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.  Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme.  This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. 

Once a dwelling is included in the Scheme, the cost of testing, damage verification, professional services and remediation works are borne by the Scheme. A scheme participant may recoup the vouched cost of the Building Condition Assessment, subject to a maximum limit of €500 (including VAT). This may be recouped from the Housing Agency once the dwelling is approved for inclusion in the Scheme.

The vouched cost of the alternative accommodation, required for the dwelling occupants during the remediation works, can be recouped by the scheme participant. Recoupment of the vouched cost is subject to a monthly maximum limit of €1,500 (including VAT) and an overall limit of €4,500 (including VAT) per dwelling.

The vouched costs in relation to the removal, storage and return of the furniture in the dwelling, equipment and effects can be recouped by the scheme participant, subject to a maximum limit of €2,500 (including VAT) per dwelling.

Where the scheme participant satisfies the Housing Agency in advance that suitable rental accommodation cannot be obtained for €4,500 or less, the alternative accommodation and the removal and storage expenses may be combined, but are subject to an overall limit of €7,000 (including VAT).

The average all-in cost of remediation in 2019 was €65,000 per dwelling. There can be significant variation in costs, with one-off houses generally having larger ground floor areas being the most expensive.