LIMERICK householders whose properties were damaged by pyrite can now apply for grants for works to remedy the damage.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, announced this Friday an extension of the pyrite remediation scheme to include the administrative area of Limerick City and County Council.
This will see homeowners of dwellings with significant damage attributable to pyritic heave in Limerick being eligible to apply for remediation works under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.
Previously, only the owners of dwellings located within the counties of Kildare, Meath or Offaly or the administrative areas of Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown or South Dublin were eligible under the scheme.
Twenty million euro was provided under Budget 2020 to cover the scheme, bringing to approximately €150m the total funding provided since 2014. The department said this was a clear signal of the continuing importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of significant pyritic damage in private dwellings.
Figures from the department indicated that up to 2,800 applications have so far being received, and of these, 2,000 properties have been remediated under the scheme at an average cost of approximately €70,000. Visiting the 2000th home to be remediated under the scheme in Balbriggan Co Dublin, Minister O’Brien said: “I am very glad to extend the pyrite remediation scheme to the people of Limerick and I fully intend on ensuring that ultimately all eligible homeowners of dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave can have their homes remediated under the scheme.”
Welcoming the scheme extension Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell said: “Having worked with the residents of the Meadows Estate in Corbally and others householders in Limerick, who have been greatly affected by Pyrite in their homes, I fully understand how difficult a time this has been for them.”
“This announcement today will come as great relief to them in addressing the Pyrite issue in their homes and I look forward to continuing to work with them here,” added Deputy O’Donnell.
