Applications for Defective Block Scheme welcome in Carlow following launch
Homeowners in Carlow affected by pyrite will soon be able to apply to be part of a compensation scheme
Applications for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme are now being accepted in Carlow following its launch.
It was set up to financially assist with remediation costs for homeowners whose properties were affected by the presence of excessive quantities of mica or pyrite in the blocks used to build their houses.
Funding, up to a maximum of €462,000 per dwelling, is available for remediation works, professional fees, Building Condition Assessments, VAT, alternative accommodation, storage and essential immediate repair works.
Eligible rental properties registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) may also qualify, subject to scheme conditions.
The Defective Concrete Grant Scheme is available to the owners of buildings across Carlow Town and county.
An owner eligible for the scheme must have acquired ownership of the dwelling before 31st January 2020 (or inherited the dwelling on or after 31st January 2020) or be the landlord where there was a registered tenancy on or before 1st November 2021.
A dwelling considered relevant must have been constructed before 31st January 2020 with defective concrete blocks, been damaged because of the use of said blocks, have planning permission, and be either owner-occupied or registered with the RTB.
Applications will only be accepted in hard copy format.
Pyrite, often referred to as "fool's gold,” is a naturally occurring mineral found in some stone aggregate that was used in the construction of homes across Ireland during the Celtic Tiger era.
When exposed to moisture and oxygen, pyrite oxidises and expands, causing severe structural damage like floor heaving, wall cracking, and jammed doors.
It was announced during October’s meeting of Carlow Council that homeowners affected will be informed of a compensation scheme, according to the Carlow Nationalist. .
Cllr Daniel Pender asked CEO Coilín O’Reilly what the status of the scheme was, and he revealed that it will launch on November 10th.
Mayo County Council, which already has a compensation scheme in place, is said to have been helpful.
“They have a really good system in operation, and I am not ashamed to admit that we have taken their system and their papers and we are revamping it and we are going to roll out the exact same system,” Carlow County Council CEO Coilín O’Reilly said.
There are six properties that have been contaminated with pyrite in the county, and the Council is said to have been in touch with those property owners.
Paperwork for homeowners to join the scheme is supposed to have been sent out yesterday.