Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has access to funding from Europe to be administered by local authorities for citizens whose private property including their homes were damaged in recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43976/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department made an application to the EU Commission for funding under the EU Solidarity Fund. A regional application was made as the estimate of the extent of the damage does not meet the Solidarity Fund's threshold of 0.6% of GNI or 935.5m euro for a national disaster. Some 111.5m euro of the 276.9m euro costs to the State were eligible for assistance under the EU Solidarity Fund criteria or 21.4% of total direct costs. This included damage to roads, infrastructure, the provision of temporary accommodation and the costs incurred by the rescue services.

The Commission informed the Department on 14th September 2010 that it is proposing financial aid amounting to 13.02m euro in response to Ireland's application to the EU Solidarity Fund. This amount will now have to be confirmed by the European Parliament and the European Council by way of an amending budget procedure. The funds received will be used to recoup in part the significant expenditure incurred by the State in responding to the emergency. As soon as the budget appropriations become available, consultation will begin with the relevant Departments and local authorities to determine how the money will be recouped to them.

As part of the expenditure incurred by the State, the Government funded the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme which is operated by the Department of Social Protection. The scheme was administered by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. The scheme, which is means tested, provided emergency financial assistance to households who were not in a position to meet costs for essential needs in the period immediately following flooding. The scheme covered emergency income support payments to those in need and damage to a person's home and its basic essential contents, such as: carpets, flooring, furniture, household appliances and bedding and structural damage where appropriate.