Mary Hanley speaking with fellow members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group. Photograph: Natasha Barton
Targeting manufacturers responsible for the selling of defective concrete blocks leading to the cracking and crumbling of hundreds of homes in Co Clare must wait until agreements are reached on redress, senior politicians in the county have said.
Danny Moloney’s Kilkishen home was built twenty three years ago, they discovered in recent months that severe cracking on the walls was due to the presence of pyrite which has had many impacts including their inability to close their back door properly.
He quizzed Clare’s Oireachtas members on whether the Government had any plans “to go after” the companies responsible for selling defective concrete blocks which contained mica and pyrite, minerals that absorb water which causes buildings to disintegrate and plastering to crack.
Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) felt the present was not the right time to look for “who is to blame”. He believed the primary focus currently needed to be on Clare’s inclusion on a redress scheme. Dooley outlined that the Government have been clear that they are requesting the Attorney General to advise them of legal routes that can be followed “to target the companies responsible”. This will be a long-term issue, Senator Dooley said which will be fought in the Courts.
“The banks were bailed out but when we go looking the can is kicked down the road,” a disappointed Danny responded.
Starting to go down the legal avenue while a redress scheme is to be finalised would “muddy the waters”, Senator Martin Conway (FG) opined.
Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) was confident “a very large court case” would occur in the coming years. “A legal case will happen but it will take several years,” the Meelick native added. “We know who the companies are, they are very profitable and they are trading very well,” he said.
Crowe suggested that the companies in question give sand aggregate or blocks for free while also offering to send their trucks to assist with construction on affected homes. “They’d put them on fire,” Dr Martina Cleary said of potential of blocks being offered, “They are still selling defective concrete blocks, nobody will trust them,” the Crusheen woman claimed.
There are “moral obligations” that the companies must adhere to, Deputy Crowe replied. “Their morals were gone a long time ago,” Mary Hanley of the Clare Pyrite Action Group quipped.
Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said that developers “bought materials in good faith” as he stressed the need of homes to be built during the current climate.
