‘The council should have done more’ – councillors critical of local authority over handling of pyrite-affected housing estate
Westport councillors have strongly criticised Mayo County Council over its handling of the Páirc na Coille housing estate, where multiple homes have been affected by pyrite.
Questions have also been raised about when pyrite issues first became evident on the estate, with one councillor saying there was “a big question mark” around the timeline.
The 54-unit estate on Golf Course Road in Westport was developed in 2003 as an affordable housing scheme by Mayo County Council, in partnership with housing body Respond.
The estate was delivered under the Affordable Purchase Scheme (1999-2012). A condition of the scheme meant that the local authority could ‘claw back’ a percentage of the sale price if a home was sold within 20 years of purchase.
The majority of homes on the estate have been found to have defective concrete blocks and have tested positive for pyrite.
As a result, a number of homeowners have been left with no option but to demolish their homes and go through the costly and lengthy process of rebuilding.
Councillors expressed their anger that Mayo County Council can still take a claw back from rebuilt homes that are sold, and called on the local authority to provide greater support to residents.
Concerns were also raised about the mental health impact on homeowners who have watched their homes be demolished and gone through the prolonged, stressful process of rebuilding.
Speaking at the January meeting of the Westport and Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Brendan Mulroy expressed his anger that Mayo County Council can still clawback money from homes that have been demolished and rebuilt due to pyrite.
“I'm not happy at all. The residents down there are great people. I feel as if Mayo County Council has let them down, they should’ve stepped in in the beginning and done a lot more for those people,” said Cllr Mulroy.
He explained that after pyrite was discovered, residents were left having to demolish and rebuild their homes while continuing to pay their mortgages, some of which he said were close to being paid off.
He said there is “a big question mark” around when pyrite issues first became evident and over “who knew what”.
He noted that residents of Páirc na Coille had sought legal representation and said he would therefore be careful about his choice of words, but added that it was “very hard to give Mayo County Council anything but a blasting on this one”.
“They are a fantastic community, and they are a credit to themselves as neighbours - they helped each other out,” he said.
He questioned the local authority’s handling of the issue from the outset, particularly in relation to the personal toll on homeowners.
“Mayo County Council makes a big thing about people's mental health - and rightly so, as we should - but what about the mental health of the people of Páirc na Coille,” he said.
“I would like to know who knew what and when. Mayo County Council, even at this late stage, could step up and help the people of Páirc na Coille,” he added.
Cllr John O’Malley agreed with his colleague and added that it was an “awful situation financially and mentally” for the residents in the estate.
“The council should’ve done more, and could still do more,” he said. “Every ounce of help that can be given, should be given”.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.