The cost to the State of repairing 1,000 private homes damaged by the presence of pyrite in their foundations has risen to just under €70 million, with at least 600 more homes scheduled for work. The pyrite remediation scheme was set up in 2013 to address structural damage arising from “pyritic heave”, where the presence of the mineral in the foundations has caused subsidence and cracks in homes. More than 10,000 homes completed between January 1997 and December 2013 in Dublin, as well as in Meath, Kildare and Offaly have been affected by pyrite. Significant milestoneThe majority of the repairs have been undertaken in the Fingal area of Dublin, where work on 666 homes has been completed. Minister of State for Housing Damien English said an additional 430 homes would be remediated this year.

Source: The Irish Times March 31, 2018 00:00 UTC