Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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307. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of funding available for the rebuilding or restoration of a house effected by MICA or pyrite under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the percentage given for counties Limerick, Donegal and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33113/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks. The regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020 and opened for applications at the end of June 2020. 

The scheme outlines five remedial options ranging from demolition and rebuilding on existing foundations to replacing of external walls only. The maximum approved costs per dwelling under the scheme are significant and range from €55,000 to €275,000 depending on the remedial option.  A grant of 90% of the approved costs associated with the necessary remediation works, subject to a maximum for each remedial option, or 90% of the actual cost of the remedial works, whichever is the lesser, is available under the scheme.

The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme currently applies to Donegal and Mayo only. Any consideration of an extension to scheme to other counties would, in the first instance, require the relevant local authority to carry out a rigorous analysis of the issues locally. Such analysis would need to demonstrate that identified issues are due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks. The relevant "I.S.465" protocol would need to be followed in this regard. The extent of the problem would also need to be quantified.

I am establishing a time bound working group with representatives from my Department, the relevant local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review and address any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the scheme, including issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering, allowable costs recoupment etc.   The recommendations of this working group will inform any potential changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required which I will bring forward to Government following collaboration with Ministerial colleagues and in particular the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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308. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of funding that was given for houses under the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33114/21]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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309. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of funding that was given for houses under the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33116/21]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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310. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of funding that was given for the rebuilding of a property under the pyrite remediation scheme; the percentage of funding that was provided to applicants for alternative accommodation while their property was being rebuilt; the percentage of funding that was provided for the storage costs of house contents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33117/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 308, 309 and 310 together.

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. There are no proposals to provide for further financial assistance outside of the scheme.

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 lastest figures indicate, in excess of 2,100 dwellings have been remediated. The average all in cost of remediation of dwellings under the Scheme ranges from €65,000 to €70,000 per dwelling.