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For Written Answer on : 30/05/2024
Question Number(s): 218 Question Reference(s): 24557/24
Department: Social Protection
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total amount expended to date under her Department’s humanitarian assistance scheme, activated on 19 October 2023 following storm Babet; the number of payments made, to date, to those affected by the resulting flooding in each local authority area; the number of cases, if any, still being processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My Department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my Department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated to assist householders affected following Storm Babet. This scheme remains open to those affected by this weather event to apply for assistance.
The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to provide income–tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and because they couldn’t get insurance, are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.
The income test for Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is more generous than that which applies in the case of social welfare schemes generally. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance, including non-Social Welfare recipients.
Arising from Storm Babet which occurred on 18th October 2023, over 1,100 payments have been made to households up to the end of April 2024, at a cost of over €3 million. My Department does not hold statistics in respect of Local Authority areas.
Less than 10 applications are currently being processed, this is due to additional information being required from the applicant or where it is necessary to involve the services of a Loss Adjuster. The Community Welfare Staff are paying close attention to all claims received and claims are being processed as quickly as is possible.
If any household affected by severe weather events needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
