Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Finance in cases in which houses are wrecked beyond repair due to flooding and in which the insurance only covers repairs but such repairs do not restore houses to their original state, will his Department, through the Irish Red Cross, accept applications for such eventualities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5660/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Humanitarian aid schemes for householders who have suffered damage to their homes as a result of flooding are considered where the extent of the damage has been catastrophic and the normal safety nets that protect against risk are either inoperable or inadequate and hardship is suffered on an extensive scale. Such schemes, which have been administered by the Irish Red Cross, provided for the relief of hardship and were not compensation for losses or a substitute for insurance. The aid was not designed to put victims in the position they were in before the catastrophic event but to alleviate extreme hardship and to assist flood victims in restoring their lives to some semblance of normality.

The local authorities are the housing authority in their respective areas and there are no plans to involve the Irish Red Cross in cases where houses have been damaged beyond repair. Arising from the Government decision last September which approved the recommendations of the flood policy review group, the administration of humanitarian assistance in the future by the community welfare services of the regional health executive in conjunction with, as appropriate, local community and voluntary groups and non-governmental organisations is being examined.