Limerick pyrite campaigners come together to demand action

HOMEOWNERS from across the western seaboard – including Limerick – have come together for the first time to demand action over their pyrite-hit houses.

Tens of thousands of houses across the State are known to have been impacted by defective building blocks, which in many cases, are seeing large cracks form.

Government has signed off on a compensation scheme which could run into the millions.

But with the process on this stalling, homeowners from Limerick, Clare, Mayo and Donegal have linked up.

Among the people impacted are Ann Ryan and her brother Kieran, who live side-by-side near Askeaton.

She says both homes are full of pyrite-hit blocks leaving them “fit for demolition.”

Initially damage to her home was blamed on water getting under the foundations, which saw Ann’s insurer pay €25,000 to unpin the foundation and re-roughcast it.

Despite this, the cracks returned a year later.

It was only after several other studies that pyrite was found to be the issue.

Ann explained: “My situation is bad enough, but not as bad as others. I have an old council cottage with a bathroom and kitchen built on. The cottage is fine, it’s the build-on which is the problem.”

Due to this damage, water pours into her windows, and it is getting harder and harder to heat the home, she added.

“The minister, Taoiseach and everyone has seen these houses. But they are still dragging their heels. As far as I can see, the legislation is signed off. They’ve clapped their hands together, and from their point of view, it’s done with,” she said.

Ann made the point that the question of where homeowners will live when their homes are finally in the process of being repaired is never addressed against the backdrop of the housing crisis.

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The group – known as the Defective Concrete Homeowner Representatives – held a meeting with the Department of Housing last November.

Custom House officials were asked to secure written confirmation from their Minister Darragh O’Brien that the department will continue dialogue with homeowners, confirmation that insurance and financial bodies would co-operate with the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block scheme, and crucially, a timeline for the roll-out of the compensation scheme.

They were given a deadline of December 2, but no answers came, and despite assurances the scheme would be operational by the first quarter of this year, nothing has yet happened.

In a statement, the group said: “There is now a real concern that those who are suffering in defective concrete homes are being de-prioritised while the Department of Housing deal with additional crises government has created from lack of regulation, failure to build housing capacity and inadequately support and plan.”

They’ve said the delay has left homeowners in “extended, prolonged and indefinite limbo.”

“Through each stage of the campaign, homeowners have been met with delay after delay, prohibitive tactic after prohibitive tactic,” they added.

The group moved to issue the statement after it emerged Mr O’Brien was to provide 100% redress for the defective apartment owners in the country.

While they support this, they said they too must be prioritised.

“A defect is a defect regardless of type or scale,” they added.

The Department of Housing did not return a request for comment from the Limerick Leader.