Pyrite campaigning 100% Redress party seeks Mayo general-election candidates

A party set up to campaign for 100 percent redress for homeowners affected by mica and pyrite is seeking candidates to stand for the Dáil in Mayo at the next general election.

Cllr Ali Farren, PRO of 100% Redress, told The Mayo News they would welcome any Mayo candidates seeking to run for the party in the general election.

Cllr Farren, who has no prior affiliation with any political party, was among four 100% Redress candidates elected to 37-seat Donegal County Council in the recent local elections. The party’s six candidates received over 7,000 first-preference votes in Donegal.

Formed last year by homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks, the party did not run any candidates in Mayo, where up to 1,000 houses are believed to be affected by pyrite.

The current Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme provides up to €420,000 based on the square footage of a house, rather than the rebuild costs. Commercial premises, community centres, boundary walls, and other buildings are not currently covered by the scheme.

Over 300 applications have been submitted to the pyrite redress scheme from Mayo households.

“We would really love people to consider or to come forward, to represent the party, in the next election, whether it be in three months, six months or whatever,” said Cllr Farren, who also said 100% Redress are not a single-issue party.

On its website, the party lists improving mental-health services, ending homelessness, ‘giving hope to our young people’ and tourism among its other issues of concern.

Cllr Farren added that tourism, health and housing were all affected by the ongoing pyrite and mica situation.

Thousands of households, mainly in Co Donegal in Co Mayo but also in Clare, Sligo, Dublin and Limerick, have been affected by defective concrete blocks.