Mayo councillors request fund to repair pyrite walls in estates

THE minister and junior minister for housing, Darragh O’Brien and Alan Dillon, are being asked to create a fund for local authorities to address repairs in pyrite effected estates, such as boundary walls.

The request has come from Mayo County Council where elected members supported a motion on helping residents in affected estates.

Councillor Mark Duffy said where people are trying to rebuild family homes, they don't have finances for boundary walls too.

If there was a scheme it would give people hope that walls can be repaired, he said.

Cathaoirleach Councillor John O'Hara said the problem is with walls along roads and at the back of houses. Some are dangerous and could fall on anyone, he pointed out.

There was support across the council chamber for the motion.

Also on matters pyrite, Councillor Peter Flynn asked that where people with council loans have been impacted, they should be getting mortgage top-ups from the local authority.

“We are doing nothing to help them,” he said.

Another member, Councillor Johnny O'Malley, hit out at the government putting 5% on every cubic metre of concrete sold, saying they were doing it to get back the money they are paying out under pyrite redress.