Homeowners whose houses have been affected by the use of pyrite are to meet with the Oireachtas Environment Committee to outline their concerns.

It is understood that up to 20,000 homes have been built using pyrite, a substance that causes walls to swell and crack.

An ongoing debate has emerged in which Homebond, the insurers of those who built the homes; say they are not liable to pay compensation.

Meanwhile The Pyrite Action Group, which represents homeowners in the dispute, will today call on the Government to take a leading role in the negotiations.

"We want the Government to challenge the stance taken by Homebond. Their legal position is purely that, a legal position. It hasn't been tried or tested in court and we would love to see that being tested," he said.

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The government has set up a working group in order to try and resolve the problem.

The Background

Previously the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, dismissed claims that the State should bear some of the responsibility for the pyrite-damaged homes.

Mr Kenny insisted it was a civil matter but added the State had an interest because the experience was very distressing for affected homeowners.

Tens of thousands of homes are exploding in slow motion because of infected building materials used in their construction.

Developments in west and north Dublin, Meath and Kildare are among the worst hit by the unfolding crisis.

A High Court case has ruled that a quarry supplying material infected by pyrite was culpable.

Socialist TD Joe Higgins said: "The implication is that they (homeowners)will be left with their homes coming apart at the seams while a gaggle of developers, builders, insurance companies slug it out for years and years in the court to try and evade their responsibilities."



(LB/CD)