CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL continued to try secure €8m in Government funding to advance a maritime training centre for a building in Kilrush without testing it for pyrite despite it showing signs of cracking.
As first reported by The Clare Echo in July, members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group raised their concerns that a prominent building in Kilrush, Creek Lodge located in the Marina was showing signs of pyrite defective blocks with vertical and horizontal cracking visible on the exterior walls of the property.
Despite the feared presence of defective concrete blocks, core testing was never carried out at Creek Lodge and instead the building was put forward as an application under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The €8m maritime training centre is viewed as having the potential to create 28 jobs and train 1,200 people annually.
In December, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) visited the Kilrush Marina and was later questioned by members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group if Creek Lodge was tested for the presence of pyrite. “My understanding is that all tests came back negative and cracks on rear gable are considered to be standard settlement cracks,” he responded.
At a meeting between senior Council officials and the Clare Pyrite Action Group last week, an update on the status of the building was sought. At this sitting, it emerged that core testing was never carried out at Creek Lodge despite the comments from Deputy Crowe which prompted confusion from representatives as to how the building could be deemed to be pyrite free and suitable for consideration for an €8m application. Council officials gave assurances that testing would take place.
Founder of the Pyrite Action Group, Dr Martina Cleary visited Creek Lodge on Tuesday. She said it was evident core testing had been completed but questioned how fifteen cores could have been taken in the space of four working days, “it would be a miracle to have it tested to that extent in that space of time”. She said there was “very clear signs of the damage associated with defective pyrite ridden concrete blocks, similar to what we are seeing up and down the county”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Dr Cleary outlined that it was “absolutely shocking to see the condition of the building, that this was going on for so long and an €8m application was submitted for a building in this state”.
She said Clare’s chances for redress could have been strengthened if the Council had completed the testing prior to giving its submission to the Department of Housing. “This could be the very same blight so many homeowners in County Clare now have destroying their homes”.
The Clare Echo contacted Clare County Council for comment but none was received at the time of going to print.
