THE traumatic impact of living in a home with defective concrete blocks is to be explored in a two-day conference hosted by the Technological University of The Shannon (TUS) in May. 

The international event entitled ‘Losing Your Home – ‘The Impact of Defective Concrete Blocks in Ireland’ will hear from a host of experts in the fields of engineering and geology as well as mental health and arts specialists. 

The event is being organised by the founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG), Dr Martina Cleary and Dr Rita Scully of the Department of the Built Environment at TUS.

“The issue of Defective Concrete Blocks, containing deleterious materials, particularly Pyrite, Mica and Reactive Sulphates is one currently impacting thousands of homeowners in the western seaboard counties of Ireland,” said the organisers.

“As walls crack and homes crumble, the financial, legal and psychological consequences on very ordinary people is becoming a widening crisis, affecting all parts of our communities.

“In November 2021 the Irish Government announced a revised Grant Scheme, to cost the Irish State a historic €2.2 billion for certain remediation options. However this Scheme, which has yet to be passed into legislation, is based upon limited research and is also geographically restricted, leaving thousands beyond hope of any assistance at all.”

Organisers described the focus of the conference as interdisciplinary.

“We are particularly interested in including expertise which will add to existing technical knowledge of the problem, but also insights into the broader human implications for those individuals and families affected,” they said. 

Dr Cleary told The Champion she hopes to keep the situation in the Midwest and in Clare to the forefront of the national discussion about redress. “The fact is we are being completely ignored in terms of access to the grant scheme,” she said.

“This conference will look at a range of issues arising out of the situation facing affected homeowners and will help address some of them. Clare must be central to the debate.”

Meanwhile, the results of further testing for pyrite in Clare are awaited Additional sampling of a number of local authority properties was undertaken to address questions raised by the Department of Housing about a report the council submitted last July, asking for access to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.