Westport fury over lack of housing for pyrite homeowners
Residents who live in a Westport housing estate, where houses are contaminated with pyrite, are on the verge of becoming homeless, a local councillor has warned.
Residents in a Westport housing estate that is ravaged by pyrite are on the verge of becoming homeless, a local councillor has warned.
Speaking at last week's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, Fianna Fáil Cllr Brendan Mulroy said demolition work has already commenced on some houses in Páirc na Coille, and sourcing accommodation has become problematic for owners.
“Given the vast size of that estate, I don’t think we’re in a situation here where Mayo County Council can now walk away and leave these people isolated by themselves,” Cllr Mulroy said. “We have to stand with them, the situation is that these people have to find their own accommodation, I think Mayo County Council needs to step up to the mark and help people in that process.
“The houses are condemned, the costs are escalating, and people’s mental health is really suffering here. These people bought those houses in good faith, they’re in mortgage situations, some of which are with Mayo County Council. It’s one thing to see your home demolished, but it’s another to see the costs escalating around you. This is a situation of the highest importance.”
Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn said it is becoming clear that the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is not “remotely adequate” to cover the costs.
“For a three or four-bedroom detached house, you’re looking at reimbursement of €200,000 to €250,000. When you factor in the fact they have to pay for the demolition and the cost of having the materials removed, let no one tell you that it comes remotely close to allowing people to rebuild their houses. It’s now resulting in people taking shortcuts and having to get significant mortgages. Some of these people have been living there for 20 years, and instead of being in a scenario where their loans are paid off, they’re back to square one, where they’re going into banks looking for mortgages.”
Cllr Flynn also suggested that modular homes, like the recent development in Claremorris, could be a temporary solution, citing potential land on the Golf Course Rd.
“We have moved mountains for refugees, but now let’s do the same for our own people,” he said.
Independent Cllr John O’Malley said he spoke with one of the women living in Páirc na Coille, who can only find accommodation in Clifden, some 40 miles away.
Cllr Christy Hyland said that the new scheme is a “sham”.
“It reminds me of the three-card trick. We’ll gave you a scheme, but we’ll make it so frustrating that you won’t be able to take advantage of it’ That’s what’s happening here in Páirc na Coille,” Cllr Hyland said. “I met one woman and she was sitting in the corner of her house, crying like a child.”
Cllr Hyland proposed that the council push forward with using the site on Golf Course Rd for modular homes. Head of the district, Padraic Walsh said he would raise the issue with the council's director of housing Tom Gilligan.
