THE builders' holidays can't come soon enough for some of the Dublin companies now facing new problems arising from news that pyrite is undermining houses on at least two north Dublin estates.

Menolly was the first developer to acknowledge that it will have to carry out remedial work on scores of houses following the discovery of pyrite - known as fool's gold - from a Taggart-owned quarry.

As it deals with residents complaints of cracking floors and walls, other builders must be on red alert in case the problem is about to land on their doorstep.

A number of builders got their infill material from the same quarry as Menolly, and are obviously anxious about the houses they have already built.

Home Bond has been briefing its house building members, but has not so far acknowledged that there could be a wider problem.

Its chairman Frank Fahy was deflecting calls to its press office who suggested that home owners with problems should first contact their builder before looking for help from Home Bond.

Meanwhile, Menolly executives have been in Canada, where a similar problem has arisen in Montreal.

There it looks as though government is taking charge of the rescue effort, setting up a $70 million (€48.7 million) fund for homeowners.

Let's see if the usually dynamic Fingal County Council steps in to help.