Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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504. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the options that are available to pyrite homeowners who have a second property available but which needs repairs; if they can avail of the croí cónaithe grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13850/23]

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.

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.

Scheme eligibility includes that the applicant must be the owner or joint owner of a dwelling, an application can only be made in respect of one dwelling and the dwelling must have been purchased before 12 December, 2013.

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.

Separately, in July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant, which was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages, was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas from 15 November, 2022. The Grant is exclusively available to individuals or households for which the property will be their principal private residence. Further information on the grant can also be found on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/.