AN INITIAL €10 million of funding has been announced by the Government to repair homes damaged by pyrite.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan says that the funding will be put in place for approximately 1,000 homes that are in immediate need of repair and will be implemented by the Pyrite Resolution Board.

Additional funding will be also be allocated over the next two years from the Capital Stimulus Programme in early 2014 according to the minister.

The scheme will also provide vouched costs of up to €2,500 for homeowners to remove furnishings form their homes during renovation and up to €3,000 in accommodation costs.

Homeowners who have already paid for home repairs as a result of pyrite damage will not received any compensation however.

The minister says that, despite the remediation scheme, the state is neither culpable nor liable for the pyrite problem, it was he says was “another building scar” from the Celtic Tiger.

Speaking at the announcement of the scheme, Minster Hogan said that he is aware that it has been a “difficult time” for pyrite affected homeowners but that complex legal issues had to be addressed before a resolution could be finalised:

I have full confidence in the commitment of the PRB to having the pyrite remediation scheme operable as quickly as possible. The legislation to put the Pyrite Resolution Board on a statutory footing and to give effect to the remediation scheme will be enacted before the end of this year.

Read: Details of pyrite repair funding due tomorrow >

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