Pyrite and mica are naturally occurring minerals in stone, but when the levels are high it can cause severe structural defects in households if found in the blockwork. It can begin with just small cracks developing on your walls, which in time, gets worse and worse and in some cases gets so bad the house may become unlivable. In 2013 a remediation scheme was made available to homeowners in counties in the east of the country to help with structural damage in the foundations of houses.  And after campaigning for more than a decade, a new scheme was opened for the people of Mayo and Donegal who’s homes have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks. In Clare, a group has been set up to campaign for the county to be recognised for pyrite issues so they can avail of the same grant as counties Mayo and Donegal. Our reporter Siofra Mulqueen reports.

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