Limerick City Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne has called on the Pyrite Resolution Board to include Limerick in the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.
Speaking the Seanad yesterday, Senator Byrne said: “Pyrite in concrete blocks can have a devastating effect on a person’s home. The most effective remediation solutions suggested involve practically the removal of affected blockwork and the reconstruction of the houses. This clearly will involve considerable expense on homeowners.
“All of this underlines the need that householders be provided with financial assistance to fix their home and for a remediation scheme for pyrite blocks similar to that set up on the East Coast to remedy pyrite heave in foundations be established.
“It is also imperative that a pathway be set out whereby when remediation works are carried out to specified standards that a Certificate of Structural Soundness will issue in respect of the affected property so there will be no question other than the owners will be able to sell and mortgage their properties like any other in the future.
“This is an issue that is very important to me. Buying a home is perhaps one of the biggest milestones in a person’s life. They need to be assured that what they buy is fit for purpose and meets minimum standards. We need to face up to the heartbreak that pyrite brings to people’s lives.
“It is very distressing for the homeowners involved. We need to put funds in place for a Remediation Scheme for Pyrite in blockwork similar to what was done for homeowners in the East of the country where pyrite heave identified in foundations.
Minister of State John Paul Phelan, who has responsibility for housing, said that the Pyrite Resolution Board is open to amending the scheme to include Limerick, “subject to the affected properties meeting certain conditions”.
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