Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of financial humanitarian assistance allocated as a result of the flooding last autumn, 24 October 2011, that has been allocated on a national and county wide basis; the average allocation; and if an appeal mechanism exists to challenge unsatisfactory allocations. [31939/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In the immediate aftermath of the severe flooding experienced in October 2011, the Government put in place a humanitarian assistance scheme to assist households affected by that flooding.

Since these floods, the Department has been providing individuals with emergency payments to offset their immediate needs such as the purchase of food, clothing, fuel and household goods. Payments have also been made in respect of essential household items such as carpets, flooring, furniture and white goods. Funding towards alternative accommodation costs have also been made in certain cases depending on the circumstances of the families.

Larger payments in respect of longer-term needs, such as assisting with the cost of repairing homes and making them habitable again are also being made. This type of payment will take longer as homeowners must first establish the cost of repair and engage a builder to carry out the repairs.

From October 2011 to the end of May 2012, a total of 960 payments have been made at a cost of €760,000, with payments averaging at approximately €790. The majority of these payments were made to customers resident in either Dublin or Monaghan.

Any person continuing to experience hardship as a result of the October 2011 floods should contact the local Department of Social Protection representative administering the supplementary allowance scheme who may be able to offer assistance. The humanitarian assistance scheme is a non statutory scheme and is not covered under social welfare legislation. It is one of a number of social welfare schemes which operates on an administrative basis. Administrative schemes are not appealable under social welfare legislation. However, where a person is dissatisfied with a decision they can request to have their case reviewed by another officer. This review will be carried out by an officer not involved in the original decision.