A Clare builder’s accused the Government of not having the will to solve the housing crisis.
It’s after a 10% levy on concrete blocks, to raise funds for mica and pyrite redress schemes, was announced in Budget 2023.
A fee on concrete blocks, pouring concrete and some concrete products will be introduced in 2023, and will be applied at a rate of 10%.
It’s expected it’ll raise 80 million euro a year, and is intended to in part pay for a redress scheme availed of by homeowners with defective concrete blocks in Clare, as well as Mayo, Donegal and Limerick.
There’s been criticism of the measure though, with estimates of an extra 2,000 euro on the cost of building a home being suggested in some quarters.
It comes at a time when housing supply is being squeezed, while the cost of building materials is already increasing.
Ciaran Breen of Ciaran Breen Construction in Ennis says it should be the specific quarries involved in the defective concrete blocks scandal that foot the bill.
Homeowners who are impacted by pyrite in this county are labelling the move as an ‘unfair’ one.
There are fears that the levy will not only impact those looking to build a home, but will cost those looking to rebuild here after being effected by pyrite more to do so.
Chair of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Dr. Martina Cleary, says the annual income the State will receive from the levy isn’t worth the difficulties it will cause.
The levy on concrete comes into effect from April.
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