Defective Building Materials

I raise a number of concerns about the decision to close the pyrite remediation scheme to new applications on 30 November of this year, and in particular the implications for homeowners who may be left without any meaningful avenue of support. I acknowledge that the scheme has made a huge difference by providing an important remedy for thousands of homeowners whose properties have suffered significant damage as a result of pyritic heave. However, I am concerned that the decision to close applications risks leaving a significant number of people in a very difficult position The first question I want to put to the Minister of State is straightforward. What happens to someone who discovers pyrite in their home on 1 December 2026 or thereafter? Perhaps they have recently purchased a property or have never had a reason to suspect a problem. Perhaps they discover cracking, lifting floors or other evidence of damage in the months or years ahead. The application window will have closed. Does that mean they are simply on their own or will there be any mechanism to assess their circumstances and provide assistance? The second issue is potentially even more concerning. There are homeowners who know that their properties contain pyrite at this time, but their homes do not have sufficient damage to qualify for remediation. We know that the scheme is based on the extent of the damage rather than simply the presence of pyrite. It was extended and that was welcome, but that is still the case. What happens to a homeowner whose property contains pyrite but does not yet meet the eligibility threshold? Pyritic heave can develop over time. A property that does not demonstrate significant damage today may deteriorate in the future. Does the Minister expect those homeowners to simply wait and hope that their homes do not deteriorate? If the damage does deteriorate after 26 November, what recourse will they have, if any? I am concerned that we could end up with a situation where people know there is a problem with their homes but where the State has withdrawn the mechanism through which they could seek assistance. The third issue concerns entire housing estates and communities. There are developments where pyrite has been identified and where individual homes may not have suffered significant structural damage. However, the presence of pyrite in an estate can have consequences well beyond the physical condition of an individual dwelling. Would-be buyers, for example, report difficulties obtaining mortgages and securing finance. Homeowners report selling their properties and achieving a fair market valuation as being a major problem. Think about what that means for a family who want to move house, perhaps because their family is growing or they need to relocate for work or they want to downsize. They may have maintained their home, paid their mortgage and fulfilled all their responsibilities, yet can find themselves effectively trapped in a property because of an issue associated with the development in which they live. Even where an individual house is not displaying significant damage, the stigma and uncertainty surrounding pyrite can have a real financial impact. How does the Government intend to address that problem?

I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board, PRB, and the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme, which is administered by the PRB with the support of the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply solely to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave resulting from the presence of a reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material. The scheme was established to remediate such dwellings where the swelling of hardcore beneath-ground floor slabs caused significant damage. The scheme, as we all know, was launched in February 2014 and has been running for over 12 years. It is expected a total of 3,017 homes will have had remediation completed by the end of this year at a cost to the taxpayer in excess of €205 million. In November 2025, the Government approved a significant expansion to the damage eligibility criteria under the scheme to ensure that additional homes within affected areas could be remediated as the scheme enters its final phase. Under this widening of eligibility, the PRB will evaluate each eligible application using strict qualification criteria. Applicants approved will follow the existing eight stages of pyrite remediation with an additional assessment step. The scheme engineer will revisit the property within a defined period to reassess whether any progression has occurred as determined by the PRB. The Housing Agency will oversee assessment and testing on behalf of the PRB. The scheme will close to applications on 30 November 2026. The works programme will continue until the end of 2029, when it is expected all dwellings that have been significantly damaged as a result of pyritic heave will be remediated. In June 2026, a periodic critical review of the PRB in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies was published. Section 4.2 of the review recommended that a working group be established to assist the PRB in the wind-down process of the scheme. The review proposed that the working group members include management from the PRB, officials from the Housing Agency and the Department of housing. That group has been established and will provide guidance and support to the PRB on matters relating to the wind-down of the scheme including additional pyrite cases following the scheme closing for applications, press and homeowner communications, legislative requirements, financial and contractual obligations and staffing arrangements.

I appreciate the Minister of State's response, particularly the point about the working group. However, I return to the central issue because it is a really important one. There is a fundamental difference between a house that has been remediated, a house that has been assessed and found to have significant damage, and a house where the presence of pyrite has been established but where the damage has not yet progressed to the required threshold. Those are three different circumstances. I am particularly concerned about the third category. We cannot simply assume that because a property does not meet the eligibility criteria, it will never require remediation. I ask the Minister of State if the Government will retain a mechanism to deal with those cases if the damage progresses. Has she any indication with regard to the working group and its timeline? It has been established. For example, when will it propose how additional pyrite cases following the scheme's closure will be dealt with? That is a really important question. I again raise the case of wider impacts on housing estates. A homeowner can have a perfectly liveable property with no significant visible damage but still face enormous difficulties when trying to sell or remortgage their property because pyrite has been identified in the development. It is important that the Minister and the Department engage with the banking sector, mortgage providers, insurers and property valuation professionals to establish a consistent and fair approach to homes in pyrite-affected developments, particularly where individual apartments or homes are not affected. I think the Minister of State will agree they are important issues.

I know it holds up a lot of sales and causes a lot of consternation for people purchasing and selling their homes, but the pyrite remediation scheme has operated successfully for over a decade. It has helped fix thousands of homes during that period. However, in the last few years, the number of applications to the scheme received by the PRB has fallen significantly. The PRB has recommended that the scheme be wound down in a planned and controlled manner with a primary focus on the needs of homeowners. In addition, a smooth wind-down is required for the Housing Agency, building contractors, engineering consultants and the PRB. An end date of 30 November 2026 has been set for submission of applications by homeowners for remediation of their homes. Adequate and appropriate notice of the end date for receipt of applications has been provided, including through a public advertising campaign run by the PRB. Significant damage to homes from pyrite should have been identified and evidently present by this time. To address the Deputy's point, the working group will assist the PRB in the wind-down process of the scheme including technical aspects associated with the potential for additional pyrite cases into the future, following the scheme closing for applications. The working group will complement and guide the work of the PRB, and it is anticipated the working group will be operational for between 18 and 24 months starting in September 2026. Further information on the working group's activities is available from the Pyrite Resolution Board, contact details for which are available on its website, pyriteboard.ie.