ENVIRONMENT MINISTER Phil Hogan will tomorrow announce details of funding for repair works for people whose homes have been damaged by pyrite.

The minister said this evening that the Government today gave the go ahead for the immediate commencement of the pyrite remediation scheme. It is hoped that the legislation in this area will be debated in the Dáil and the Seanad before being passed by Christmas.

Pyritic heave has emerged in housing developments in Dublin and nearby counties following the inappropriate use of pyrite during their construction. Pyrite is a naturally occurring mineral which causes significant structural damage to homes if used in the infill below floor slabs.

Tomorrows announcement has been met by approval from a number of quarters in particular because a lack of clarity on the Government’s position has been a consistent complaint from opposition TDs.

Fine Gael’s Meath East TD Helen McEntee said that tomorrow’s announcement will reassure those affected that “the end is in sight” in terms of dealing with the pyrite issue.

” This will allow the process, which has been stalled for a number of months, to finally get going, and should come as a considerable source of relief for pyrite homeowners,” she said

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