Farrell calls for prioritisation of Pyrite Levy legislation in upcoming Dáil session
4th September 2013
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has today (Wednesday) urged the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, to ensure that the planned legislation to establish the Pyrite Levy Fund is given top priority in the upcoming Dáil session.
“I have written to Minister Hogan this week to request that the long awaited Bill needed to fund the pyrite remediation process will be brought before the House early in this Dáil session.
“Considerable work has gone into the establishment of the Pyrite Remediation Board so far, however it has not been possible to proceed with remediation as the necessary legislation is not in place.
“I am urging Minister Hogan to bring this matter before Cabinet as a priority when it reconvenes this month, so as to reduce the possibility of further delays to the application process. For many affected homeowners, this fund is a lifeline and the solution to a considerable problem which has been plaguing them for nearly eight years.
“I am confident that Minister Hogan understands that importance of this issue, however we are entering a very busy Dáíl session, especially with the Budget being brought forward to October, and I want to ensure that this important matter remains a top priority for this Government.”
Website launched for pyrite affected homeowners
27th May 2013
“A new website launched by the Pyrite Resolution Board is the first official ‘one stop shop’ source of information for pyrite affected homeowners”, according to Alan Farrell, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal.
“The website, www.pyriteboard.ie, is a very big step forward in the process of remediation for homeowners as it outlines fully the steps that will need to be taken in order to engage with the remediation process once the online application process begins.
“Essential information such as the criteria to meet the terms of the scheme, and guidance on obtaining a Building Condition Assessment prior to the application process can also be found on the website.
“Property owners can register their interest in the application process, and will receive an automatic notification once the date for receiving applications has commenced.
“As an affected homeowner and someone who has campaigned strongly on this issue, it is a remarkable shift from the period prior to government intervention in 2011 when homeowners had no hope and no support to present day where homeowners can now actively engage in a fair resolution process. It is life changing, and I commend fully the extraordinary body of work that has been undertaken by Department of the Environment, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, and the Pyrite Resolution Board in order to establish a feasible resolution without placing the burden on the taxpayer.
“The website www.pyriteboard.ie and the Helpline 1890 252 842 is an important preparation tool for remediation, and is the first resource set up in the interest of the homeowner to provide information on this difficult and complex issue.”
Pyrite Resolution Board update
9th April 2013
The Pyrite Resolution Board (PRB) has set out a preliminary roadmap for the testing and remediation of properties affected by significant pyritic heave.
To date the Board have made significant progress on scoping the proposed remediation scheme and a dedicated website will be established by the end of May for homeowners to make online applications for remediation.
The PRB have indicated that the scope of the remediation scheme will cover:
(i) dwellings constructed in the period 1997 -2009 in the five local authority areas identified in the pyrite report,
(ii) dwellings certified in accordance with the standard developed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), as having significant pyritic damage,
(iii) dwellings purchased and occupied by homeowners (and not applicable to unsold dwellings owned by developers/builders),
(iv) homeowners who have no other avenue for redress and excluding dwellings where remediation work has already been undertaken.
The PRB have also indicated that the following costs will be covered:
(i) Applicants will be required to submit a building condition assessment. However, an allowance, subject to a maximum limit (at an indicative cost of circa €600) will be recouped where it is subsequently established that the dwelling is subject to significant pyritic damage,
(ii) Sampling, testing and categorisation,
(iii) All activity associated with remediation work, including preparation of work plan, tendering, commissioning of works, oversight/monitoring of works, snagging, certification and sign off,
(iv) A reasonable allowance for furniture removal, storage and accommodation.
Applications will be made to the PRB and it will decide eligibility.
These measures will remove cost of testing as a barrier for homeowners to avail of remediation works as well as dramatically reducing a financial burden of pyrite for homeowners.
As an affected homeowner, I understand the anxiety of not knowing what the next step is on this issue. I hope that this information will provide some clarity, and I am determined to ensure that this process continues on track.
Work is currently progressing on legislation to establish a funding mechanism through a levy on the construction and insurance industries in order to fund remediation and is expected to come before cabinet later this month.
Light at the end of the tunnel for pyrite homeowners
19th December 2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has today (Wednesday) said that the €50 million financial solution for owners of pyritic homes announced by Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, provides a long awaited solution for the owners of homes affected by pyrite.
Pyrite is a building material which has caused significant damage to homes. It has been used in the construction a significant number of houses in north Dublin, Meath and Kildare and has left home owners facing massive bills for problems such as cracked walls and floors.
“The owners of pyritic homes, who have been through hell, can now see light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Minister Hogan, has secured up front funding of €50 million from the banking sector, has established the Pyrite Resolution Board, and has in principle agreed on a mechanism with industry stakeholders, including Homebond, to facilitate the remediation of dwellings. I welcome the fact that other key stakeholders, including the Construction Industry Federation, the Irish Concrete Federation and the Irish Banking Federation, are behind this process.
“Pyrite homeowners, many of whom bought their houses during the peak of the property boom, have had to endure the nightmare scenario of their homes being destroyed in front of their eyes.
“It is very clear to me, as someone whose home is affected by this problem, that there has been more movement on this issue on behalf of homeowners in the last six months than there had been in the previous six years. From personal experience, I can categorically state that the previous government kicked this to touch since this situation came to light in 2007.
“I commend the steadfast determination of Minister Hogan, and the clear direction of the Pyrite Panel in their efforts to find a meaningful resolution to this problem for tens of thousands of homeowners. Crucially, it has come at no cost to the homeowners who played no hand, act or part in the construction of these houses, and will not burden the taxpayer with further costs.
“Eighteen months ago homeowners were left with no solution to this problem other than the prospect of footing the bill for testing and possibly rebuilding their homes, due to the fragile state of the construction industry. Bearing in mind the difficulties that many of these homes may already be in due to mortgage difficulties and negative equity, the potential for yet another cost would certainly have pushed these families over the edge.”
Farrell welcomes Property Tax waiver for pyrite homes
14th December 2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal Alan Farrell has today (Friday) welcomed confirmation that pyrite homes will be granted a waiver from the Local Property Tax. The issue is to be addressed in the context of the Finance Bill by the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD.
“I am hugely relieved that a waiver will be granted to people living in homes affected by pyrite, ensuring they won’t have to pay a property tax on homes that are essentially worthless. I expressed concerns last week when the Finance Bill was published, as it did not contain any specific reference to pyrite properties. I suggested that waivers should be granted. The issue has been raised with the Minister for Finance, who has agreed with this approach.
“I would like to commend Minister Noonan and the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, for their action on this matter.
“There is a long road ahead for pyrite householders. Progress needs to be made on a resolution process set out in the report from the Pyrite Panel, as published by Minister Hogan earlier this year. Action has not been as swift as I would like on the testing and categorisation of homes; a process which is essential before remediation works can be commenced.
“I welcome the commitment from Minister Hogan that he will do what is necessary to ensure responsible stakeholders provide effective solutions for affected homeowners. I will continue to raise this issue with Government to make sure the voices of pyrite householders continue to be represented.”
Pyrite report provides roadmap to resolution for homeowners
18th July 2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the publication of the Pyrite Report which contains 24 recommendations and provides a roadmap for the next steps required to solve the huge difficulties facing affected homeowners in Fingal, including Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk, Swords and other areas in the north county.
“Today’s report identified 74 estates nationwide, including 12,250 ground floor dwellings, as possibly being affected by pyrite, which is significantly lower than the 100,000 figure previously estimated. The report contains 24 recommendations which will form a roadmap of the next steps needed to resolve pyrite-affected homes.
“Of the 12,250 dwellings, approximately 850 currently have a claim with a guarantee provider. A further 1,100 dwellings have already, or are in the process of, being fixed. This could leave a maximum of 10,300 homes with potential future exposure to pyrite problems. The only recognised method of solving pyrite-affected homes is to remove and replace the defective hardcore material of the house, at an estimated cost of €45,000.
“The report has recommended that all relevant stakeholders across the industry, including the construction industry, banking sector, insurance industry and quarries, be compelled to bear the cost of repairing pyrite-affected homes. It also recommends the establishment of a standardised testing regime.
“Homes will be categorised into a traffic light system, where those classed as red will be treated immediately, amber refers to homes which need to be monitored on an ongoing basis, followed by a green category, where houses which don’t have reactive pyrite in its hardcore, or it has already been replaced.
“I have been campaigning for a resolution on this serious issue for a number of years and I lobbied strongly for the establishment of this panel, with whom I continuously engaged with over the past 12 months. My home tested positive for pyrite seven years ago, along with hundreds of others in north county Dublin and thousands of others across the country.
“This is a positive step forward, one that will get the ball rolling for a lot of homeowners who have been shunned by developers or insurance companies. These organisations will now be compelled by the Government to play their part in the testing and rebuilding of homes.
“I hope that this news will bring hope and to rejuvenate those in pyrite-affected homes who felt that they had no recourse. I have already engaged with the Minster for the Environment regarding the implementation of the report and I intend to see this through to the end.”
Urgent need for the publication of the Pyrite Panel report
16th July 2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has today (Monday) urged the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, to publish the Pyrite Panel’s report as a matter of urgency, as more and more homes in Dublin are testing positive for the material.
“As the number of houses testing positive increases, such as today’s discoveries in housing estates in Ballymun, it is imperative that the Government publish its findings and recommendations to allow homeowners to review their options and take action as soon as possible.
“The Pyrite Panel has undergone a vast amount of research and investigation in order to get to a point where the report is ready to be published. I am confident that its findings will reflect the needs of those without recourse, as well as protecting the taxpayer where possible.
“However, at this stage there are many homeowners who have been in limbo awaiting the recommendations of the Pyrite Panel and I believe that sufficient time has passed for them to make their conclusions. For this reason, I am calling on Minister Hogan to ensure that the report be published in the coming days, particularly before the Dáil rises for the summer.
“As the owner of a house with pyritic backfill, I am acutely aware of the dramatic impact that this issue has on homeowners. I have been contacted by numerous home owners who are experiencing serious defects within their homes and are anxious to take necessary action.
“I intend to raise this issue in the Dáil with the Minister for the Environment to ensure that this is prioritised before the Dáil goes into recess.”
Homebond snub of Oireachtas Committee is an insult to the owners of pyrite-affected home
16th January 2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has condemned Homebond’s decision not to appear before the Oireachtas Committee for the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht as part of its investigation into the cost of restoring the structural integrity of houses damaged by Pyrite.
“The decision by Homebond to ignore the democratic mandate of the Oireachtas is an insult to the estimated 20,000 people who own pyrite-affected homes. These people, many of whom bought their houses during the peak of the property boom, have had to endure the nightmare scenario of their homes being destroyed in front of their eyes. Homebond has a responsibility to these people to account for themselves before the national parliament, as has been requested. I would ask why they are trying to avoid the questions raised by the Committee?
“Pyrite is a national issue, and a matter of serious public importance. There is no justification for any private entity to ignore matters of such public importance. If Homebond insists that it is their right to shirk the legal responsibility of this issue, inevitably onto the taxpayer, they have a duty to explain their actions.
“Pyrite is a building material which has caused significant damage to homes. It has been used in the construction of an estimated 20,000 Irish houses, including a large amount of homes in north Dublin, Meath and Kildare. It has left home owners facing massive bills for problems such as raised floors, swollen and cracked walls and warped and jammed doors and windows.
“As the owner of a house with pyritic backfill and having worked on this issue as a public representative since 2007, I am extremely frustrated by Homebond’s failure to appear before the Oireachtas Committee. Unfortunately this no-show is reflective of its general lack of cooperation with affected homeowners since this issue came to light.
“I fully condemn Homebond’s refusal to appear before the Oireachtas Committee, and I will support the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, and the Committee in all their endeavours to ensure that we receive a full explanation for its actions.”
Department of Environment to consider exemption from Household Charge for Pyrite affected homeowners
12th January 2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Alan Farrell yesterday received confirmation that the household charge will be reviewed for pyrite affected homeowners upon the findings of the report issued by the pyrite panel, after raising the proposal during the topical issue debate in the Dail yesterday.
“Minister Fergus O’Dowd, speaking on behalf of the Minister for Environment Phil Hogan TD, outlined that he will be giving serious consideration to this proposal upon receipt of the report from the established Pyrite Panel.
Speaking the Dáil yesterday, Alan Farrell TD outlined reasons why pyrite affected homes should be recognised as incomplete, “Pyrite presents a significant health and safety risk to home owners because of the pyrite swell in the floor slab which for example, can cause problems opening and closing doors, and in itself requires considerable remedial work.
“Affected homes require significant reconstruction work, turning estates into building sites once again. Work can take anything from 8 weeks to several months to complete, and I fundamentally believe that it is inappropriate to place the Household Charge on these properties while there is an exemption for ‘unfinished estates’.
“In the meantime, there is currently a list on www.householdcharge.ie of estates that are exempt from the Household Charge and I would urge homeowners who are in unfinished estates to clarify their position as some of these estates are in Dublin North.
“I am pleased that the Minister will give this proposal full consideration upon receipt of the Pyrite Panel report, and I accept the difficulties in this regard to the identification of relevant problematic properties. However this government has done more for pyrite home owners in nine months than any other government since 2007, and I believe this is a realistic conclusion that can be addressed as part of the report by the Pyrite Panel. ”
Pyrite affected homes should be exempt from household charge
14th December 2011
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Alan Farrell has today (Wednesday) called on the Minister for Environment, Phil Hogan, to include those affected by pyrite to be exempt from the household charge.
“I have called on the Minister to recognise that homes affected by the pyrite epidemic over the last few years should be included under the exemption clause which waives the €100 household charge for those living in ghost estates.
“I fundamentally believe that estates affected by pyrite should not be considered as complete or finished. Therefore I believe it unfair for people living in these homes to pay the household charge when they do not benefit from owning a structurally sound property.
“Pyrite is a building material which has caused significant damage to homes. It has been used in the construction of an estimated 20,000 houses in north Dublin, Meath and Kildare and has left home owners facing massive bills for problems such as cracked walls and floors.
“These people, many of whom bought their houses during the peak of the property boom, have had to endure the nightmare scenario of their homes being destroyed in front of their eyes.
“Having worked on this issue since my election in February and for the preceding four years since the first discovery of pyrite in residential properties in July 07, I have recently welcomed the appointment of the pyrite panel who will report their suggestions and recommendations for affected homeowners in the new year. In the meantime, I believe that imposing the household charge on these homes will be inappropriate and I am hopeful that the Minister will grant an exemption.”
“As the owner of a house with pyritic backfill, I am acutely aware of the dramatic impact that this issue has on homeowners. I have been contacted by numerous home owners who are experiencing serious defects within their homes. The Pyrite issue has been particularly prominent in north Leinster and in my own constituency of Dublin North.
Working Group is a positive step forward for homeowners affected by pyrite
9th September 2011
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Alan Farrell has today (Friday) welcomed the announcement by Environment Minister Phil Hogan that his department will be establishing an Independent Working Group to facilitate homeowners affected by pyrite.
“Having experienced the issue with my own home, I have been through almost five years of strife and worry that came with the discovery of pyrite in my house, along with hundreds of estates in Dublin North. I know first hand that dealing with the significant amount of misinformation and misleading advice that seems to surround the issue is very difficult for anyone in this situation to contend with.
“I welcome the formation of an independent expert group that will have the interests of the homeowners in mind, and that despite the government having no legal liability in this matter, it is committed to acting as a facilitator to find a resolution for the issue.
“The working group will consist of An Independent Chairperson alongside appropriate experts who will call in all relevant bodies involved, including Homebond, developers, quarries and the Construction Industry Federation. However the group will also be instructed to engage with affected homeowners and associations.
“Earlier this year, I called on the Minister to ensure that preventative measures were published so as to protect new homeowners from this epidemic, which resulted in the improvements of building regulations. It is now essential that in every estate where homes are affected by pyrite that the householders unite together, become organised and make a comprehensive submission to the Working Group.
“I would urge all resident groups in Dublin North to engage fully and positively with the new Working Group. Although I do believe that this is a positive forward, I am also aware that very serious questions need to be asked by this group to determine how this can resolved.
However I am committed to ensuring that representatives from Dublin North will have the opportunity to fully engage with the process.”
Urgent change in building regulations needed to tackle Pyrite epidemic
30th June 2011
Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, today (Thursday) called on the Minister for Environment, Phil Hogan, to take swift action to mitigate against the pyrite epidemic which has caused significant damage to recently built houses.
“Pyrite is a building material which has caused significant damage to homes. It has been used in the construction of an estimated 20,000 houses in north Dublin, Meath and Kildare and has left home owners facing massive bills for problems such as cracked walls and floors.
“I am calling on Minister Hogan to act in a swift and decisive manner to strengthen the building regulations to prevent pyritic material being used in the construction of residential properties in the future.
“As the owner of a house with pyritic backfill, I am acutely aware of the dramatic impact that this issue has on homeowners. I have been contacted by numerous home owners who are experiencing serious defects within their homes. Pyrite has already affected thousands of householders in North Leinster and in my own constituency of Dublin North and it is an issue that requires immediate action.
“The previous Fianna Fail/Green Party Government refused to act on the pyrite issue since it was first identified as a problem in this country in 2007. After four years of inaction, it is essential that we now dramatically strengthen the building regulations to prevent the problem occurring in newly constructed homes. This is the only way that we can be assured that future residential properties can be free from pyrite and that future home purchasers can be protected.
“The strengthening of the building regulations is essential in order to prevent history repeating itself.”
Ends