Six houses in model estate will be knocked over pyrite contamination

SIX houses in a new estate promoted as the model way to resolve the country’s housing crisis are to be demolished over issues with pyrite.

There are 25 houses at Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, and locals fear that the entire estate could be at risk.

The land was owned by Drogheda Borough Council and, despite objections from locals who had used it as an amenity green space, the council gave the site to the North and East Housing Association for the first ‘build-to-lease’ scheme organised by a local authority.

There are 1,600 families on the Drogheda housing list so the first sod was turned last summer amid much fanfare. Building material was supp- lied by a firm called Cemex from a quarry they own in Meath. Extensive tests have been carried out since problems emerged five weeks ago.

A spokesman for Cemex said last night said: ‘Six houses are scheduled for demolition and I don’t know the precise date for demolition. This is a once-off isolated issue impacting a small portion of blocks manufactured at a single site over several months in the latter half of 2013.

‘Cemex and its insurers are working with the impacted parties to resolve the issues in an expedient manner.

‘This is different to the pyrite issue in the past. It’s what’s called reactive pyrite, it reacts to water. There are four sites affected.’

As well as Drogheda, problems have also developed at a new school in Balbriggan, four houses in Shankill and a separate one-off house. The school in North Dublin is made from a concrete and steel structure and the contaminated bricks will be removed and replaced. Builders expect the school to open on scheduled in the autumn.

The contract for the Drogheda building work was given to Mullingar-based Andrews Construction. It is believed that they have already consulted with a demolition firm about knocking down all of the partially-built houses.

The Irish Mail on Sunday could not contact the North and East Housing Association yesterday. A man representing Andrews Construction agreed to come back with a reply, but the Midlands firm did not return the call.

Sinn Féin Councillor Imelda Munster said: ‘I raised it at the last meeting of Drogheda Borough Council two weeks before the local elections and the acting manager said she didn’t have a report.’

Drogheda Borough Council’s Acting Manager Joan Martin said the project was the responsibility of the North and East Housing Association. It is understood that windows from some of the uncompleted homes have already been removed.