Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. It was said that we need to have a better exchange of information with the insurance companies with which I agree. That is why we have made provision for a memorandum of understanding. Where we complete a scheme we provide the information to Insurance Ireland so that it can pass that on to the companies which can be factored into the commercial decision-making process.

I do not accept that the humanitarian scheme has been inadequately funded purely because of the figures that I have put on the record. The Department of Social Protection's scheme has a budget of €10 million of which €344,000 has been drawn down. The Irish Red Cross has a budget of €5 million of which €530,000 has been drawn down. The councils have been given a clean-up budget of €18 million. The Government has made it clear that it will provide the funding that is necessary for the roads and infrastructure, as the damage becomes apparent. My office also runs a minor works scheme where local authorities, and only local authorities, can apply for up to €500,000 for relatively minor works that can make quite a substantial difference. I assure the Senator that I shall take the contents of the letter very seriously and my officials will revert to him.