Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

No. However, it must be understood that this is an initial sum. In a matter of this type, what is required is an assessment of the loss and of where insurance cover is available. It would be irresponsible of any Minister for Finance to provide an open-ended commitment at the beginning of such a process. This is an initial sum to deal with the immediate position that has arisen. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh, as well as the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin, will draw to my attention to the need to allocate additional funds, where the case for that need is made. Such requests will be considered sympathetically and expeditiously.

As for discussions with the European Union, aside from the European Union Solidarity Fund, no additional European Union funds are available to Ireland for flood relief. Ireland has been allocated €901 million in Structural Funds for the period from 2007 to 2013. As this funding is allocated fully to other projects under the various relevant programmes, it is not possible to reallocate from within those programmes. As for the Solidarity Fund, the ambassador raised the matter with the Commission yesterday. I also raised with a Commission official the question of the criteria for the Solidarity Fund and the Government is exploring ways in which to bring Ireland within those criteria.

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