Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion

1:00 pm

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation and the staff in the Department of Social Protection offices in Limerick and Clare for their responsiveness to people who have approached them in respect of this matter. I have a few brief questions. How much money has been allocated to cover this scheme? On page 3 of her presentation, Ms Faughnan referred to the different stages. Stage 3 relates to longer-term financial support for plastering, dry lining, repairing floors, etc. Is there a cap on the amount that any individual can get under that stage?

I am not making a political point because what I will say now also applied under the previous scheme when we were in government. I have come across a number of self-employed people, some of whom have managed to keep the water at bay but, because of their efforts and those of their families in that regard, have not been able to give time to their jobs.

They are losing substantial amounts of income. Is there any plan to provide for loss of income in a case like that? Some of the people I have come across are self-employed and have suffered flooding. Because of the problems with their houses, they have been unable to perform their particular trade or profession.

May I ask for clarification on the Red Cross scheme? Is the compensation for businesses confined to damage to buildings? There is no income loss that can be covered. It is just for damage to the business premises. Is that correct?

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