Written answers
Thursday, 22 February 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Defective Building Materials
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the NSAI has received research results and-or statements from the research partners engaged by the GSI to investigate the issue of defective concrete in Ireland. [8521/24]
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if in the interest of transparency for families impacted by the defective concrete crisis, he will ensure that all research results, whether interim or final, and all statements received by the NSAI to date from the Geological Survey Ireland and research partners are published forthwith. [8522/24]
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if all research results, whether interim or final, and statements from the independent research partners commissioned by Geological Survey Ireland into the issue of defective concrete are being acted upon with due diligence with immediate effect by his Department, NSAI and the Housing Agency. [8523/24]
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on his Department, the NSAI, the Housing Agency and local authorities persisting to administer the multi-billion euro defective concrete block scheme based upon a flawed desktop study, without prudently and immediately taking into account the clear scientific evidence from independent researchers that the primary cause of defective concrete in all counties is internal sulphate attack. [8524/24]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 176, inclusive, together.
Arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address a number of technical items. An interagency DCB Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to inform and guide the NSAI review of a number of relevant standards including I.S. 465:2018, and the impact, if any on foundations and the effect, if any, of full cavity fill insulation on homes susceptible to defective blockwork.
A number of research proposals developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees, including research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, have been commissioned and are making good progress.
I am advised that preliminary findings from one piece of primary research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, has been received by the NSAI and the relevant Technical Committee. This particular piece of research, which I understand the Question may be referring to, is but one constituent part of a substantial program of research and analysis that is underway at present as part of the NSAI review of standards. They are currently analysing this data in advance of the completion of the full research project later this year.
The NSAI is Ireland’s official standards body and is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. My understanding is that they have committed that where there are viable updates, they will come forward with those in advance of the completion of the full agreed program of necessary research.
Following the publication of any revised standard published by the NSAI, the enhanced DCB scheme will be reviewed at that point, in the event that such amendments are required.
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