Written answers

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Department of Social Protection

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amounts paid out for flooding to applicants from County Mayo in January and February 2016 and the number of applications still to be paid at the end of February 2016 under the humanitarian assistance scheme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5369/16]

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as flooding.

In early December 2015, the Department of Social Protection activated its humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist householders affected by flooding following the severe weather conditions.

Since December 2015, support has been provided under the scheme to 520 households with expenditure of over €827,000 with further claims being processed. To end of March 2016, support has been provided to 38 households in County Mayo under the scheme with expenditure of almost €100,000. A breakdown of payments made in County Mayo is provided in the tabular statement below and monthly figures to end March are included for completeness.

The scheme is demand led and there can be a time lag between the flooding event and actual claims for longer term financial support to cover works such as plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting. There are 11 humanitarian assistance scheme cases ongoing in County Mayo where the Department continues to provide assistance towards structural works to restore homes to a habitable condition.

Tabular Statement:

Humanitarian Assistance Payments made in County Mayo since December 2015.

Month
Number of households
Value of payments
December 2015
28
€37,292
January 2016
16
€37,004
February 2016
10
€14,282
March 2016
3
€10,858
Grand Total
38
€99,436

Note: Some households may have received payments in more than 1 month.

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