Pyrite homes exempt from property tax

Meath East TDs Shane McEntee and Regina Doherty have welcomed the announcement by Finance Minister Michael Noonan that householders with homes suffering from pyritic heave will receive a waiver from the Local Property Tax. Minister McEntee stated: "I am happy for the homeowners and I think that this recognition of the problem they are dealing with is another step in the right direction. This will not just affect the estates where pyrite has been confirmed but also the individual homes that have also been tested and have come up positive. It would be completely unfair and unjust to expect people to pay a property tax on a home that is in a sense worthless." Regina Doherty said: "I expressed concerns last week when the Finance Bill was published, as it did not contain any specific reference to pyrite properties. I suggested that waivers should be granted. The issue has been raised with the Minister for Finance, who has agreed with this approach. "People living in homes affected by pyrite have been through an awful couple of years. They took out huge mortgages to buy properties either as family homes or sound investments. What they have been left with are properties that are in many cases uninhabitable. Being forced to pay the property tax would have been another blow for these families; thankfully common sense has prevailed. She said there is a long road ahead for pyrite householders. Progress needs to be made on a resolution process set out in the report from the Pyrite Panel, as published by Minister Hogan earlier this year. "Action has not been as swift as I would like on the testing and categorisation of homes; a process which is essential before remediation works can be commenced."