Public meeting for Mayo homeowners impacted by defective concrete blocks
A sample crumbling block, seen during a protest outside Leinster House. The North Mayo Pyrite Group are inviting homeowners and asset owners who are impacted by defective concrete blocks to an open meeting, in the Merry Monk, Killala road, Ballina on Tuesday, March 26 Photo: Damien Storan.
The North Mayo Pyrite Group is inviting homeowners and asset owners who are impacted by defective concrete blocks to an open meeting in the Merry Monk, Killala Road, Ballina, on Tuesday, March 26 at 7pm.
The group said over the last number of years, homeowners in the county have engaged with the government on two separate schemes, however, neither have resulted in an effective solution for homeowners to fully remediate their home.
A spokesperson stated they have entered countless working groups, a mechanism to elongate the traumatic suffering on each and every family member impacted.
"There was a commitment by the government to review the scheme six months after launch. We are three months past that date and no review has taken place," she added.
Many homeowners have said they are experiencing significant issues with the scheme and parameters surrounding the scheme including but not limited to numerous outlined difficulties.
These significant problems include a lack of affordable or temporary accommodation, the rejection of homes onto the scheme due to damage threshold, withholding of engineer fees from homeowners who applied onto the previous scheme of these rejected homes.
Other problems outlined include significant cash flow issues due to the scheme ethos of 'pay first and then get reimbursed', no advance of funding to manage the cost of engineer fees (approximately €15,000) and a lack of funding to match rental accommodation and storage cost (upfront costs of up to €5,000).
The North Mayo Pyrite Group said there is no support from the banks for upfront demolition or building funding costs, little support from banks to offer top up mortgages or loans to homeowners as required due to the scheme not being 100% [redress].
The campaign group stated another disadvantage is for homeowners who have "advanced and hit the €420,000.
The three main problems are no access to rental-storage funding allowance of €20,000, the deduction of previously spent testing funding of €7,000, which leads to an immediate deficit of €27,000.
Other concerns listed by the affected homeowners are delays with the progression of new entrants onto the scheme, no confirmation on the mortgageable or insurability of a home once re-mediated, removal, testing and replacement of foundations.
Additional issues highlighted include that SEAI grants are not available, a 20-year clause for landlords and options to downsize and not be penalised.
The spokesperson stated they understand the real struggle to make ends meet while trying to navigate this red tape process.
"We invite you to attend and voice your concerns openly on items which are impacting you as a result of this faulty scheme," she said. "While there are so many homeowners impacted, there are homeowners who are not aware of the threat inside their own four walls, as well as significant numbers of vital assets in our community left outside of the scheme; boundary walls, garages, creches, medical health centers, holiday homes, partially built homes, farm buildings."
The North Mayo Pyrite Group spokesperson stressed this issue is not restricted to north Mayo.
"It is vital everyone in the county is aware of the devastating impact defective concrete blocks have on your home," she said.
"We invite those impacted and the general public to join with homeowners in our demands to right the wrongs and join the victims in their quest for justice that will enable everyone to move forward in a meaningful way."
