Residents in west Mayo estate left searching for answers over pyrite debacle

Residents of a housing estate in Westport left a special meeting with few answers to their issues with pyrite in their homes.

Mayo County Council is adamant that the 54-house Pairc na Coille estate is a private housing development.

Councillors disagree as the estate was developed by the council, with housing agency Respond, as an affordable housing scheme and they want clarity on their equity in it and how their interest was extinguished.

The special meeting was called last month after the four local elected representatives - Peter Flynn, Brendan Mulroy, Christy Hyland and Johnny O'Malley - furnished a list of questions to the chief executive, including when the council became aware of a problem with pyrite in Pairc na Coille.

In June 2017 a homeowner contacted the authority that they suspected pyrite in their blockwork but there is no record of tests being done or detailed information being submitted to the council. Belmullet Councillor Gerry Coyle disclosed at the meeting that he had been contacted by a Golf Course Road resident who suspected they had an issue in either 2014/15.

Councillors and residents are concerned that properties were sold on and extended in other cases, without them being made aware of the possibility of pyrite. In the case of sales, there was a clawback, with the council receiving €71,939 for four units sold since June '17.

Chief executive Kevin Kelly furnished answers to the questions submitted but did not attend the meeting in person due to a prior commitment, which members were unhappy about. The director of services, Catherine McConnell, was also unavailble to attend as she is abroad.

Councillor Peter Flynn said the reality of the report before them was that the council is washing its hands of any responsibility to the estate.

Clarity on ownership structure was sought by Councillor Christy Hyland who asked if the council owns equity in the properties. He wanted an explanation on how they would have extinguished their interest in it.

Housing director Tom Gilligan told the meeting this is a private estate and the council are not the owners of the property, a position he was asked to reconsider.

The idea that Pairc na Coille is a private estate would be a test case for the courts, remarked Councillor Brendan Mulroy. It was finished by the council, there was no request by a private developer for them to take it over, which made it a council estate.

Councillor Johnny O'Malley commented that it had been most unfair to leave people in the dark where they spent money on their homes. There was a responsibility on the council to come clean as soon as they found out about the problem, he said.

For their January meeting, Councillor Flynn sought an update on their legal position and obligations towards Pairc na Coille.

On the 50 new houses being developed on the Golf Course Road, he asked that setting aside 10 units for these residents as they redevelop be explored. He also wanted a nearby site offered by a community group for modular homes to be looked at again.

All council mortgages should be frozen with immediate effect, he said, and they should assist them with a top up if needed.

Councillor Hyland reiterated that he wants detail on ownership structure around affordable housing, if the council had equity, and how and when it was disposed of.

Mr. Gilligan said there has been correspondence with the department regarding modular housing and interest-free loans. Mortgage holidays are also being discussed.