Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the funding made available to the humanitarian assistance scheme for flood claims; the number of applications for support; the average time it takes to process an application; the number of applications refused support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1652/10]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 769: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the value to date of urgent needs payments paid to flood victims; the number of applicants involved; the corresponding figure for payments under the humanitarian assistance towards flood damage scheme; if the humanitarian scheme will consider permanent housing relocation payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1618/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 775: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her proposals to address the issues of hardship arising from recent flooding with particular reference to a simplification of assessment and process of applications for supplementary or emergency assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45570/09]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 780: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will provide additional emergency funds to help defray the extra energy costs incurred by persons affected by the recent flooding; if any relief is available to persons carrying third party insurance whose cars were damaged in the recent icy conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1866/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 785: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of families that have applied for a payment under the humanitarian assistance scheme or an exceptional urgent needs payment; the number of applications that have been approved and paid out; the details of the average and total payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1899/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 103, 769, 775, 780 and 785 together.

In recognition of the devastation suffered by people in many areas of the country as a result of the flooding from November 2009 onwards, the Government set up a Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to provide income tested financial support to people who have suffered damages to their homes not covered by insurance. An initial sum of €10 million has been set aside by the Government for this purpose.

The Department and the Community Welfare Service of the HSE are working with the various statutory and other agencies also working in this area, to ensure that the humanitarian assistance scheme will go towards alleviating the hardship which many hundreds of families have had to endure.

Community Welfare Service staff throughout the country have been providing support to families since this flooding occurred. Up to the 8th January 2009 they had already made over 1,748 payments to 1,038 individuals to the value of €652,000. The average payment per individual is €628, with the largest payment to an individual in excess of €8,000. All payments to those affected by the flooding are being provided for under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.

While the timescale for determining applications for Humanitarian Assistance claims is dependant, among other things, on the availability of the required information, there is no backlog of undecided claims. According to the information available from the HSE, as of 8th January 2010, there were approximately 50 applications currently being assessed. Only one claim refused.

Payments have been provided for emergency financial and other assistance to cover items such as clothing, food, bedding, heating, hire of dehumidifiers and emergency accommodation needs. The Community Welfare Service will continue to make these payments as long as there is a requirement to do so. Such emergency payments under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme are made without delay and without regard to the household income as the primary objective of these payments is to address the person's immediate needs.

As the flood waters have receded in some areas, individuals are now in a better position to assess the extent of the damage to their homes. In these cases, payments have been made in respect of essential household items such as carpets, flooring, furniture and white goods. Assistance is also available for structural repairs to homes not covered by household insurance.

Very few large scale claims have been made at this stage as homeowners have not yet established the cost of repair. In many cases, they are awaiting builder's estimates. It is expected that large scale claims will be received over the coming weeks. These claims will take somewhat longer to process as they will require verification of the loss and the possible use of a loss assessor.

The level of payment available under the aid scheme to any qualified individual depends on the severity of the damage to that person's home and the extent of the loss experienced as well as household income and general family circumstances. The scheme provides hardship alleviation as opposed to full compensation. As on previous occasions, commercial or business losses are not covered by the scheme nor are losses which are covered by household insurance. The repair of cars damaged in the recent icy conditions is also not covered by the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.

The question of permanent housing relocation payments is a housing issue to be dealt with by the relevant housing authorities. However, the Community Welfare Service will continue to work with any families in this position to ensure that the objectives of the humanitarian aid scheme are fully achieved in their case.

Applications under the scheme are being income tested to ensure that available assistance is prioritised for those who are most vulnerable. The basic objective of the income test is to determine the household's capacity to meet the costs of restoring their home to a habitable condition. All household income is considered when determining entitlement to payment.

Detailed guidelines have been provided to the HSE in relation to the income test. These guidelines also contain a list of the type of goods/appliances that are generally covered by the scheme and what replacement value should typically be attributable to each item. This list is not exhaustive and is intended as a guide only. The Community Welfare Service has full discretion to make payments at a higher level than a strict application of the income test would warrant in any individual case where it considers it appropriate to do so. This income test and guidelines simplify the assessment process and to allow for the speedy processing of applications.

People seeking assistance should contact their local Community Welfare Office. Further information and applications forms in relation to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme are available from the Community Welfare Service in the affected areas and from the Department's website ( www.welfare.ie ) and the HSE's website (www.hse.ie).