Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Finance if an application will be made to the EU for funding assistance following the recent floods here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46608/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A number of Government Departments and agencies have responsibility for emergency planning functions. In relation to the recent flooding, I am informed that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is asking the local authorities for reports on the impact of the flooding and an assessment of the remedial works required. In the course of attending ECOFIN in Brussels recently, I raised the issue of EU funding with the Commission. My Department has also been in contact with the Commission to establish eligibility criteria and the scale of funding that might be available. A delegation from the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee met with EU Commissioner for Regional Development, Mr Pavel Samecki on 4th December to impress upon him the serious damage the extensive flooding has done to lives, land, and livelihoods throughout the country and to push for money from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to assist Ireland in dealing with its worst effects.

The EU Solidarity Fund was created as a reaction to the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002. Under the EUSF regulation, Member States and countries negotiating accession can request financial aid in the event of a major natural disaster. A national application to the EUSF in regard to the current flooding would have to meet certain criteria, including a high threshold of damages amounting to 0.6% of Gross National Income (GNI) or, based on 2009 figures, damages amounting to €973m. When more complete information on the scale and cost of the damage arising becomes available, full consideration will be given to ways of meeting these costs, including if appropriate, making application to the EU for financial support.