Tag Archives: pyrite

PROTESTERS will march through Ennis on Saturday week, five months after the Housing Minister promised to support Clare homeowners affected by pyrite.  Efforts to have Clare included in the revised grant scheme for those with defective blocks are still ongoing, with correspondence being exchanged between the Council and the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government. Considerable frustration has been expressed with the fact that the Department is querying several aspects of a report submitted by the local authority last July asking for inclusion in the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.  Members of Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) are now appealing to the public for their support in progressing the issue and are asking them to gather at Áras an Chontae in Ennis at 2pm on January 29, and join a walk to the O’Connell monument at The Height.  “More and more impacted homeowners are contacting the Clare Pyrite Action Group, asking for advice and help, but we are still …

CLARE homeowners affected by pyrite are being encouraged to explore their legal options in accessing redress, as part of a series of ‘pathfinder’ cases being taken to the High Court in the coming months. Founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG), Dr Martina Cleary confirmed she will be participating in the action, alongside several homeowners in Donegal, who are affected by mica. “I am happy to say Clare Pyrite Action Group will have a number of pathfinder cases going forward with Coleman Legal in the New Year,” she said. “I personally have signed up to this action, as none of our local representatives have been able to secure justice for impacted homeowners in County Clare.” Dr Cleary also confirmed that solicitor Dave Coleman will meet Clare homeowners soon to outline their options. Under Irish law, class actions are not currently permitted, hence the need to file several individual cases, as so-called ‘pathfinders’. “In path-finder cases, the courts are asked …

A PROBE into how defective blocks came to be used in Clare homes has been sought by a member of Clare County Council. Councillor Mary Howard tabled a motion asking that the authority would call on the Housing Minister “to initiate an investigation into how inferior blocks containing mica and pyrite were used to construct homes”. While there was strong support for her call, as well as an update to a motion tabled, on the matter, by Councillor Joe Cooney, concern was voiced about criticism of the council on the issue. Councillor Pat Hayes said that while there was huge support for everyone affected by pyrite, unfair criticism of the council had to be addressed. Outlining the reasons for her motion, Councillor Howard said she wished to show solidarity with everyone affected. “First of all, I want to send out a message of support to people who are watching their houses crumble,” she said. “The genesis of this is to …

Dan Danaher asked Taoiseach Micheál Martin about some key Clare political and social issues DD: Clare home owners affected by pyrite have been excluded from the latest mica scheme. There is a lot of frustration in the county over this. What do you say to these people? MM: I think there is further information to come, is my understanding, and there is further engagement with the minister and the department. On the receipt of that information, I understand the minister will be positive in his response to that. Our view is to work with groups locally with a view to inclusion, that is the general approach. My understanding is there has been interaction and engagement, which will continue. DD: It is taking a long time to approve a scheme, can you understand the frustration if your house is crumbling? MM: The manifestation of this in terms of the presentation to the minister was a lot longer in Donegal. We are …

EMOTIONS ran high at a meeting in Ennis on Friday night last when homeowners affected by pyrite voiced concern that they are still not eligible to apply for State redress. One homeowner, among the crowd of over 50 who attended, shared her story and appealed for action for the hundreds like her in Clare. She said she is particularly concerned over discussion in the media about the burden that the revised €2.2 billion Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will put on the tax payer. “I have been a PAYE worker all my life,” she said. “I pay tax for very little in return, because I look at the health system and I look at the schooling system. I have two kids with ADHD and I have to fight for everything. “Can I boycott my taxes? Or will I end up in jail? “When I hear people saying, ‘Oh, we can’t fund this [scheme] with the taxpayer’s money… Jesus Christ, we’re …

DEEP disappointment was expressed, at a meeting in Ennis of homeowners affected by pyrite at the fact the revised grant scheme makes no mention of this county. Despite the submission of a detailed technical report by the council in July and assurances in August from the Housing Minister that Clare would be given access to the grant within “a matter of weeks”, homeowners here are still waiting. More than 50 people gathered for the event which was also attended by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor PJ Ryan, deputies Joe Carey and Cathal Crowe and senators Timmy Dooley and Martin Conway. For Clare Pyrite Action Group’s second public meeting of the year, the tables were turned as members took the top table and politicians sat in the audience. High on the agenda was the revised Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, unveiled on November 30 and still confined to Mayo and Donegal. “Clare is nowhere in this scheme,” said Dr Martina Cleary, …

SERIOUS questions have been raised over the council’s application to have the defective blocks grant extended to Clare, The Champion has learned. Despite an assurance from the Housing Minister in August that a decision would be made within “a matter of weeks”, his Department is challenging several aspects of the council’s submission. In November, Minister Darragh O’Brien told Clare Oireachtas members his Department’s concerns were not “insurmountable”. However, a letter issued on Monday poses far-reaching questions. The document queries whether pyrite is the only cause of damage to the five homes tested. “It is unclear whether the presence of pyrite has manifested itself in structural wall damage, or if the walls are damaged either wholly or partially by another cause,” the seven-page letter states. The document adds that while the technical report has confirmed excessive amounts of pyrite, “it has not been stated however that the damage which has been documented has manifested due to the presence of reactive pyrite, …

HARSH criticism was levelled at the Taoiseach over his response to Clare TDs when they asked him about this county’s access to the defective blocks grant scheme. A meeting in Ennis last Friday (December 3), of those affected by pyrite, was told Deputies Joe Carey and Cathal Crowe had been “dismissed” and “insulted” by Micheál Martin. Vice-chair of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Mary Hanley said the Taoiseach’s response to questions about the revised defective blocks grant scheme, which makes no mention of this county, was also an insult to homeowners here. The retired school principal from Drumline, who showed her home to Minister Darragh O’Brien in August, said: “Basically, the Taoiseach dismissed Joe and Cathal. He was rude. He didn’t give a continental about us. … He was so dismissive. It really insulted me. … It was an insult to you, Cathal and to Joe. “As far as I’m concerned, ye are doing as much as ye can. If …