Westport councillors want modular homes for pyrite victims

MAYO County Council has been urged to fast-track the development of modular homes in Westport in order to house locals whose homes have been affected by pyrite.

The concrete blocks used in a number of homes in the Pairc na Coille estate in Westport have been found to contain pyrite. The resulting structural problems mean they need to be knocked and rebuilt.

However, the severe shortage of accommodation in Westport means that many residents will struggle to find a roof over their head while their homes are being reconstructed. The problem has led to local councillors calling for modular houses so that those affected can be temporarily housed.

Condemned

AT Monday's monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy accused Mayo County Council of not doing enough to help the people impacted. He told the meeting that these people are ‘broken’, and said it is time the council stepped up to the plate to help them.

“It has come to a stage where people of Pairc na Coille are going to become homeless shortly and sourcing accommodation for families is really problematic. Given the vast size of the estate which is Pairc na Coille I don’t think we are in a situation where Mayo County Council can walk away and leave these people isolated by themselves; we have to stand with them.

“The houses are condemned, the costs are escalating and people’s mental health is really suffering here. These people bought these houses in good faith and some of the mortgages are with Mayo County Council. At this stage Mayo County Council have not stepped up to the mark for these people as far as I am concerned.”

Referring to his Westport colleagues, Cllrs Christy Hyland, Peter Flynn and John O’Malley, he continued: “We as four local representatives are doing our best for the people but we cannot do it single handedly and Mayo County Council has to take responsibility. I will be damned along with my colleagues if we stand by idly and allow these people to find their own accommodation on top of the mental-health issues which goes with all of that. That won’t be happening on our watch,” he said.

Modular template

THE proposal to build modular houses was made by Cllr Peter Flynn, who supported Cllr Mulroy’s call for Mayo County Council to do something meaningful for people affected. He said the building of modular housing for refugees in Claremorris had set a template, and it was time that something similar was done in Westport for local people.

“I would love it if modular homes would be a temporary solution. We have land down the Golf Course Road that would potentially be an ideal solution, but this needs to happen now. We have moved mountains in terms of the refugee crisis and you can say it was right or wrong, but now let us do it for our own people. The people who relied on the council to provide them with an affordable home have been badly let down, and we have to take immediate action.

“I propose we go back to our Housing Director [Tom Gilligan] to get back to us with an immediate response. Not in one or two or three months or after Christmas. We cannot leave homeowners quite literally homeless, and that is what we are facing right now if we don’t act,” he said.

Cllr Flynn also criticised the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, which provides financial support to people so they can fix properties that have been damaged by mica and pyrite. He said that the financial package ‘isn’t remotely adequate to cover the costs’ of demolishing and rebuilding a house, saying applicants have to take out a second mortgage to cover the costs.

“Let nobody tell you that €250,000 will go anywhere remotely close to allow these people to rebuild their houses. Some of these people have been in their houses for 20 years, and instead of being in a scenario where their loans should be paid back in two to three years, they are back at square one and back into banks looking for mortgages for up to €200,000 to try to fund the gap. It simply is not adequate,” he said.

‘Sham’

INDEPENDENT councillor John O’Malley said that he had spoken to one woman affected who was only able to find a house to rent in Clifden and has to pay €1,600 per month in rent.

“That is not a way to treat people. We can get accommodation for refugees when they come in here, but we have our own people now... and surely, if we cannot take care of our own people what the hell are we at?” he said.

Fellow Independent councillor Christy Hyland described the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme as ‘a sham’ and accused the Government of telling people lies about supporting people affected. He too called for modular homes to be built to accommodate people affected by pyrite.

“I propose we look at the site on the Golf Course Road in an emergency situation for modular homes on a temporary basis. The council have the land there. Yes, we must look after people in war-torn countries and we did step up to the plate, but let us step up to the plate for the people who have been discommoded in a big way in Westport,” he told the meeting.

Cllr Mulroy, who brought up the issue, asked Head of the Municipal District Padraig Walsh what could be done to ensure modular homes are built in the quickest timeframe.

Responding, Mr Walsh said he would bring the councillor’s proposal to Tom Gilligan and tell him how strongly they felt about the issue.

Cllr Mulroy said he wanted Mr Gilligan to immediately start working on providing modular houses for Westport.

“These people are struggling here, and they are broken. The only thing we can do as elected members is to put modular homes on the Golf Course Road for them. That is what I expect our Housing Director to put in place tomorrow morning. None of this nonsense that we cannot do it when it’s being done in other places,” he said.