Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has set up a panel to “seek to identify a way forward” on pyrite contamination in private housing by engaging with the construction industry and affected homeowners.
Many of those most affected are in north Dublin, where pyrites in the mix of gravel used for foundations of houses and apartment buildings caused cracks in floors and walls.
The establishment of the panel comes in the wake of home owners being informed by HomeBond, the industry guarantee scheme, that it would not accept liability for this form of building defect.
The Minister said: “This is of course a civil matter to which the State is not a party or in any way liable. Nonetheless I think it right that I should try to facilitate a resolution.”
As chairman of the panel, former senior public servant Brendan Tuohy will be assisted by two other members with “relevant expertise”, with technical and administrative support provided by the Department of the Environment.
The panel is being asked to finalise a report “as soon as possible”.
