*Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) is shown the damage to Mary Hanley’s home in Drumline last August. Photograph: Joe Buckley

CO CLARE has been included an expanded Defective Concrete Block Scheme.

On Tuesday afternoon, Cabinet signed off on the inclusion of Clare and Limerick in the scheme, at an estimated cost of €500m. Prior to this, only Donegal and Mayo had been included in the redress scheme, the cost of which has risen from €2.2bn to €2.7bn.

Cabinet’s decision gives operational effect to the enhanced scheme announced last November with a potential 100% grant subject to a €420,000 cap. A second cap of €145-161 per square foot is also part of the deal. It is understood the scheme does not cover another defective mineral – pyrrhotite – which has been raised by campaigners.

Between 620 and 678 properties are potentially affected in Clare according to estimates from Clare County Council. The Clare Pyrite Action Group have identified 90 properties built between 1990 and 2010 contaminated with pyrite but calculate that over 1000 homes are affected. Eleven stand-alone buildings are affected or potentially affected and three different local authority built estates have proven to have pyrite in their blocks.

Since September 2020, the Action Group founded by Dr Martina Cleary have been campaigning for inclusion in the redress scheme. The announcement this week is viewed as a step forward but homeowners are wary regarding the criteria for eligibility and the provision for consultation.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) said the inclusion of the county in the redress scheme was “significant but by no means is it the end of the road”. He stated, “The Cabinet sign-off indicates a follow through on a government commitment to provide redress for Clare homeowners but there are further stages ahead, including the preparation of legislation to give effect to redress.

Deputy Crowe added, “The impact of pyrite is very obvious on the structure of these homes, but it has also caused untold mental strain and hardship for the families concerned, as I’ve seen first-hand. Today’s announcement certainly builds momentum around redress but it’s now important that the terms and conditions of the redress application scheme and the particulars around how an individual can draw down funding is clarified and that we provide the best possible redress for homeowners. It’s also vital that the government continue to pursue the concrete block manufacturers that sold these defective blocks. A parallel legal process must get underway to ensure that these companies pay a significant penalty for the damage that their defective blocks have caused”.

Violet-Anne Wynne TD (IND) has praised the Action Group for their “resilience” shown over the past 21 months.

Related News

34_CCC - Boat Launch_250625
Addition of €28k rescue boat a major upgrade to fleet of Clare Civil Defence
madden furniture 1
Landmark Ennis business Madden Furniture to close this month
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship

Advertisement

Latest News
galway greyhound stadium
Double feature win for Long & Collins
micheál murray 1
Mint performance from the Murrays helps Miltown win O'Gorman Cup for second time
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
waterford v clare camogie 05-07-25 jennifer daly orla hickey 2
Waterford relievedly Rockett to last four following Clare scare
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship
Premium
éire óg vs ballyea 04-07-25 david reidy paddy smyth 1
Éire Óg retain Division 2 League title in derby decider
killaloe canal 1-2
Teenage girl 'scared & angry' after boy (14) 'humped' her from behind in Killaloe
1 DSC_9129
Clare will have 'one hell of a shot' in quarter-final with Waterford - Carmody
inagh kilnamona v clonlara 05-09-21 30 kevin hehir paraic o'loughlin
Inagh/Kilnamona chase first senior title & Clonlara aim to regain silverware
east clare memorial pat hayes
Hayes accusses Tipperary councillor of spreading 'misinformation' on Killaloe to Ballina pedestrianisation

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement