Rose Conway-Walsh presses for clarity on pyrite scheme costs
Rose Conway-Walsh questioned the pyrite remediation scheme, pressing for clarity on what “100%” cover means and whether retrospective and returnee homeowners are included. She highlighted that Mayo submitted 18 proposed changes and raised detailed queries about rebuild, planning and professional costs.
Mayo submissions
Rose Conway-Walsh said constituents in Mayo submitted 18 different changes to the original scheme within one month of its announcement, arguing those changes would have made the scheme workable and should be acknowledged.
Questions on coverage and retrospective provision
She asked whether "100%" means full rebuild and whether that will exclude nobody impacted by pyrite. She sought clarification on whether the scheme includes planning, demolition, engineering and architect costs, and whether homeowners who were forced to emigrate and are now returning will be covered. She also asked if there is provision for homeowners who had to rebuild before the scheme came into place.
Scheme cost and expanded scope
Referring to the minister's outline, she noted the scheme will cost over £2.2 billion over a projected period. She emphasised the scheme has been expanded to cover rental properties and described it as far more expensive than its predecessor.
Upfront costs and interim support
She said decisions require a framework and that all upfront costs will now be dealt with by the housing agency rather than householders. She also noted an allocation of £20,000 to cover rent and storage and called for the increased costs and work to be acknowledged.
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Thaiseach, you constantly refer to the satisfaction level with the old scheme, but we in Mayo submitted 18 different changes with that original scheme that would make the scheme workable within one month of that being announced, so that isn't correct for you to say that, we went through it painstakingly. Does the 100% mean 100% to rebuild and that that will exclude nobody impacted by pyrite and does it include the planning and demolition and the engineering and architect costs and homeowners who have been forced to immigrate are now returning home to Ireland, will they be included and is there provision for retrospective home for retrospective provision for the all number of homeowners who had to rebuild before the scheme came into place, so if you could maybe clear up as much of those things as possible, thank you. I think the Minister has outlined the scheme in great detail, it will cost over £2.2 billion over a projected period of time admittedly because some houses won't all come on stream together, it has been expanded in an unprecedented way to cover rental properties as well, there has to be a framework, a framework, decisions have to be taken and all of the upfront costs will now be dealt with by the housing agency that originally householders had to take on board, there has £20,000 been allocated in terms of covering rent and storage, this is a far more expensive scheme than its predecessor, that should be acknowledged and I believe we don't need to get on but doing the work.
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