Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

684. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department will allocate more funding to Mountmellick following the recent flash flooding which has caused damage to homes, businesses and roads in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50623/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

685. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department will allocate funding to Laois County Council for Mountmellick and other areas in County Laois following the recent flash flooding which has caused damage to homes businesses and roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50624/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 685 together.

Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities to cover the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with significant emergency events, including flooding. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to severe weather emergencies and the fact that the costs of these unprogrammed activities cannot be met from within existing resources. 

My Department has written to all local authorities inviting them to submit claims for the recoupment of exceptional costs associated with the response to and clean-up following Ex-hurricane Ophelia, and is liaising with Laois County Council with regard to the recoupment of its exceptional response and clean-up costs associated with the flooding event in Mountmellick on 22 November.

Funding of repair of public infrastructure is undertaken by the relevant Department in line with its sectoral responsibility.  Capital costs associated with infrastructural damage, for example damage to the roads network and coastal protection infrastructure (where relevant), are not included therefore under the above arrangements. 

I am aware also that a number of emergency humanitarian support schemes have been put in place to assist households and small businesses affected by the recent flooding event in Laois.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection confirmed on 23 November that its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to assist people in Laois whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. The scheme is means tested and assistance is not provided for losses which are covered by insurance or for commercial and business losses.

Financial support under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is targeted initially at the immediate needs of those who may have been directly impacted by the flooding (such as clothing and food) with further support available (financial support for household items and structural repair) as the clean-up operations begin. More information on the Scheme is available at: www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Humanitarian-Assistance-Scheme.aspx.

In addition, the Department of Defence has activated an Emergency Humanitarian Scheme for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies, to be operated by the Irish Red Cross.  The scheme provides temporary emergency humanitarian support to small businesses that have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been impacted by flooding. It is intended as a contribution towards the costs of returning business premises to their pre-flood condition including the replacement of flooring, fixtures, fittings and damaged stock.  

The scheme is targeted at small businesses (up to 20 employees) and has two stages: the first stage commenced immediately and will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of damage incurred. In the event that businesses have incurred significant damages above €5,000, the second stage will provide a means to seek further support. However, this will require a more detailed assessment.

Further information, including application forms and eligibility criteria, are available on the Irish Red Cross website, at:

www.redcross.ie/news-and-events/laois-humanitarian-support-scheme/.