Gov Announces Fund For Flood Victims

The Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for the Environment have announced the Government has agreed to an allocation of up to €10 million for means-tested support for flooding victims.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme will support people who have suffered damage to their homes as a result of the recent flooding, according to Ministers Joan Burton and Phil Hogan on Wednesday.

The Government will also established a cross-Departmental and Agency Working Group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, to oversee the State's collective response to those affected by the flooding.

According to the Ministers, the Working Group will identify any gaps that may exist within existing services to address the consequences of the flooding for individuals, families and communities.

Minister Burton said: "I have been to visit many of the families who have suffered from the flooding and I have seen first hand the damage to some people's homes."

Meanwhile, Minister Hogan said he welcomed the establishment of the Group which will work in a "speedy and focused way" to ensure those who require the assistance of the State following the severe flooding of 24 October get it.

The fund will provide hardship alleviation assistance, as opposed to full compensation, to householders affected by the flooding, while damage to a person's home and its basic contents, such as carpets, flooring, furniture, household appliances and bedding, will be the main criteria. Structural damage may also be considered.

Dublin North Senator Darragh O’Brien welcomed the scheme, but said the Government needed to act on ensuring flood defences were up to the task.

Speaking on Wednesday, Senator O’Brien said: “This is a very welcome scheme and it will provide much needed relief for people who’ve suffered significant losses with damage to carpets, flooring and furniture as well as extensive damage to their homes.

“I have visited residents of the Kinsealy-Melrose area of Kinsealy and the Holywell area of Swords. There are many cases unfortunately of residents suffering flood damage for the third time in the last two a half years.

“I am calling on the local authorities and in particular Fingal County Council to act on the information on flooding that I have given them. My colleague Councillor Eoghan O’Brien has also done extensive work on this issue as well.

"We are calling on the local authorities to ensure, as much as possible, that remedial work on flood defences, particularly the clearing of culverts to channel excess water, is carried out."

(DW)