Pyrite-affected residents relieved at breakthrough

NORTHSIDE residents whose homes are affected by pyrite say all their Christmases came at once when the Government announced it was setting up a fund of

?¬50 million to fix their properties.

The announcement is regarded as a long-awaited recognition of the pyrite problem, which has tormented thousands of property owners.

News of the fund came just days after the Government agreed to grant a property tax exemption to some homeowners, depending on the level of pyrite present in their homes.

Sandra Lewis, from Santry, who has campaigned tirelessly with the Pyrite Action Group, said the announcements gave homeowners hope of a resolution for the new year.

“We finally got some movement on the matter from the Government which was great, especially given the timing,

? Ms Lewis told Northside People.

“As always we’re still waiting to examine the finer detail of the fund and the tax exemption as to how it will be administered but in general we’re very happy.

?

The fund for properties affected by pyrite, which will be established with e50 million from several banks, will ultimately be paid for by a levy on some insurance products and on quarrying.

It means that those whose homes are affected by pyrite will not have to pay for repairs, which have an average cost of

?¬45,000 per home.

According to Ms Lewis, the scheme isn’t perfect and the Pyrite Action Group does have concerns, particularly in terms of how it will be administered.

“No one really knows how the fund will work but we’re presuming that homes identified to be in the red category with the highest level of pyrite will be the first to be to be fixed,

? she stated.

“Our apartment falls into that category from what we know, which we’re glad of now, ironically, because it means an end is in sight.

?

Sandra’s husband Peter Lewis also welcomed the Government’s reprieve for pyrite-affected homeowners on the property tax issue.

“We would have been squeezed from every angle if we had to pay the property tax,

? he said.

“We’ve taken a hit on the cut to the children’s allowance, changes in PRSI payments, increased car tax and then we were faced with the prospect of paying tax on our structurally defective home, which is more of a burden than an asset.

?

The profile of homeowners affected by pyrite is typically, but not exclusively, one with a young family, a large mortgage on a home purchased in the

‘boom’ and a home that is now deep in negative equity.

The Pyrite Action Group had argued that the Government couldn’t and shouldn’t propose taxing properties which don’t meet the State’s most

“basic building regulations

? as a result of the presence of the pyrite mineral. from page 1

In July of this year, the Pyrite Panel’s report was published in which it was revealed that more than 12,000 homes in 74 unnamed estates could potentially be contaminated with the structurally damaging material from five quarries.

Among 24 recommendations listed within the report was the suggestion that homes affected by pyrite should be exempt from property tax for a set time and that 850 homes that have significant damage should have repair works carried out as soon as possible.

Fingal councillor Ruth Coppinger (SP) described the Government’s proposal as

“a start

? which finally acknowledges the suffering of thousands of homeowners.

However, she believes the amount of

?¬50 million being put into the fund is a

“drop in the ocean

? and would only deal with an estimated 1,000 homes.

“While nobody knows the full extent of the pyrite problem, 20,000 to 30,000 homes could be affected,

? she claimed.

Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) welcomed the Government’s announcement.

“I hope that the Minister (Phil Hogan) will now provide a strict timeframe for the establishment and allocation of funds from this scheme,

? he said.

“Householders affected by pyrite bought their homes in good faith and were devastated to find such a serious defect in perhaps the key purchase they will make throughout their lives.

?