356 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the inspections carried out by him of residential homes up to 2004 and his dealings with Homebond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2086/11]

The National House Building Guarantee Scheme was established in January, 1978, under the aegis of the Construction Industry Federation, to provide a guarantee to purchasers of new houses against major structural defects. My Department's inspectors carried out inspections of properties covered under the guarantee scheme on an agency basis on behalf of the guarantee company. Costs associated with these inspections were recouped to my Department by the guarantee company. Homebond Insurance Services Limited took over responsibility for the guarantee scheme in January, 1995.

My Department continued to provide inspection services to Homebond up to 2004. My Department's records show that over the period 21 January 1995 to 31 December, 2004, inspections were carried out in relation to some 365,611 properties registered with Homebond. A more detailed breakdown of this information is set out in the relevant Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.