John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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582. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will amend the humanitarian assistance scheme in County Donegal to ensure that affected families who lost items such as children's toys, play and entertainment items and garden equipment are adequately compensated for their loss. [43870/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department immediately activated the humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist householders in County Donegal affected by the flooding experienced towards the end of August.

Humanitarian assistance is designed to provide hardship alleviation, as opposed to compensation, to people affected by an emergency event. The scheme provides 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.

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.

Guidance on the administration of the scheme is provided to Community Welfare Service staff. The guidance provided is not exhaustive and each case is considered on an individual basis to assist families replace essential belongings.

Any person experiencing hardship following the flooding in Donegal in August and indeed following the severe weather over the last twenty four hour period should contact my Department’s local Community Welfare Service for assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.