Minister meets with pyrite homeowners on Ballina visit

Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage Darragh O’Brien hopes Mayo County Council will pursue a proposal to develop temporary accommodation for people affected by pyrite, who are waiting for their homes to be rebuilt.

Minister O’Brien made his comments while visiting Mayo yesterday for engagements in Ballina, Crossmolina, Castlebar, and Kiltimagh.

The minister held a meeting with representatives of pyrite-affected homeowners in the Ballina area, to discuss the ongoing rollout of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.

Issues such as a lack of alternative rental accommodation, for people who need to live elsewhere while their homes are being rebuilt, were discussed.

There were just 12 properties available for rent in Ballina and the surrounding areas on Daft.ie yesterday, with just two of those in the town of Ballina.

In the Ballina Municipal District, 237 houses have been approved under Stage 1 of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, while 109 have been approved under Stage 2. Some 11 houses have already been rebuilt.

Minister O’Brien told the Western People at the official opening of 50 new social houses in Rehins Fort, in Ballina, that while the rental sector is currently challenging, he is hoping to see Mayo County Council make progress on temporary accommodation measure.

“It is a difficult private rental market. The local authority is working on a proposal in relation to temporary accommodation, but I haven’t yet received their submission.

“I’ve encouraged Mayo County Council to continue with this work and to conclude it as expeditiously as possible, so I can receive a proposal I can assess,” he said.

He said he is glad that remediation work is currently ongoing in Mayo and the scheme is progressing.

“Thankfully, we’re seeing homes remediated in Mayo. Homes have to be demolished and rebuilt.

“We’re seeing an increase in the number of applications coming into the enhanced scheme and that is a good thing.”