Placards that featured in a recent peaceful demonstration in Ballina over the pyrite issue. Photo: North Mayo Pyrite Group Facebook page

Actress Anna Friel supports pyrite affected Mayo home owners

BRITISH actress Anna Friel has voiced her support for home owners in Mayo and Donegal whose houses are affected by pyrite and mica.

There is growing anger and frustration for the supports being given to people whose homes are crumbling away due to defective concrete blocks used in their construction.

Friel took to twitter this week to show her support, tweeting: 'Supporting Donegal and Mayo home owners effected by mica & pyrite.'

The actress has received lots of message of thanks on twitter for not forgetting her Irish roots (her dad grew up in Donegal) and for supporting the families affected.

Two Mayo councillors, meanwhile, have tabled notices of motion looking for financial relief for people in the county whose homes are affected by pyrite.

Councillor Seamus Weir, in his motion on the agenda for next Monday's meeting of Mayo County Council, has called on his council colleagues to support his call on the government to review the pyrite contamination on all residential properties in County Mayo and to redress the compensation from 90% to 100% funding.

His north Mayo colleague Councillor Gerry Coyle, in his motion, called on Mayo County Council to write to the government and Minister for Finance requesting that houses being repaired and rebuilt under the pyrite defective block remedial scheme be exempted from the 13.5% VAT payment.

In a separate motion he called for the same VAT exemption to be extended for all first-time home buyers and people building their first home.