James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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500. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if financial aid will be provided to private homes affected by flash flooding recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13911/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of flooding events.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department can make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

Any person whose home was affected by recent flooding events, and who is in financial difficulty as a result, should contact their local Community Welfare Service to discuss their situation

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.