John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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504. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if families who are homeowners or are renting private accommodation, are affected by the recent flooding in County Donegal and are availing of support from the humanitarian assistance scheme are entitled to the same financial support and compensation as families renting in local authority owned accommodation; and if not, the reason therefor. [40330/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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508. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will consider allowing for retrospective payments to be made to persons under the humanitarian assistance scheme in respect of applications submitted by flood victims resident in the Finn Valley region of County Donegal who had properties damaged during a major episode of flooding in the area in late 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40421/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 508 together.

My Department immediately activated its humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist householders in County Donegal affected by flooding following the recent severe weather conditions.

The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, replacement of household items and in some instances structural repair. In dealing with emergency events of this nature, the Department generally adopts a three stage approach as follows:

- Stage 1 is to provide emergency income support payments (food, clothing and personal items) in the immediate aftermath of the event. A relatively small amount of financial assistance is generally provided initially.

- Stage 2 generally involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items. It is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes will become fully known.

- Stage 3 is to identify what longer term financial support or works are required. It could take some time before this stage of response commences and this involves a cross Departmental/Agency response. Works carried out can include plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.

My Department has provided financial support under the scheme to some 140 affected households with further payments under stages 2 and 3 being processed. The Government has not set a limit on the amount that can be paid to an individual household under this scheme. Levels of payment depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs ensuring that the funding is appropriately targeted.

Assistance is not provided for losses which are covered by insurance or for commercial and business losses, or generally any loss or damage to private rented accommodation or local authority accommodation. However, my Department’s focus is on ensuring that people’s immediate needs are met and emergency stage 1 payments can be made to persons irrespective of the nature of their accommodation.

I am advised that Donegal County Council is continuing to provide support and assistance to their tenants who were affected by the flooding under separate arrangements to this Department’s humanitarian assistance scheme.

People seeking assistance under the humanitarian assistance scheme should contact their local Intreo Centre where CWS staff are available to offer assistance or contact the Buncrana Intreo Centre on 074 9364600.

In early December 2015, my Department activated the humanitarian assistance scheme to assist householders affected by the severe weather conditions of winter 2015/16. If the Deputy has concerns in respect of a specific household affected by the weather events of that period he should bring the details to the attention of my Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.