Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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127. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to open a humanitarian relief fund for premises damaged in storm winds the weekend of 19, 20 and 21 February 2022 [10896/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) Flooding Relief Scheme is an emergency humanitarian contribution for businesses, (up to 20 employees), community, voluntary and sporting bodies, who are unable to secure flooding insurance, to assist them in returning their premises to their pre-flood condition.

The Scheme may be invoked following a Government Decision to provide funding on the basis of confirmation received from the local authority and the National Emergency Coordination Group that relevant damage has occurred.  The scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of DETE. 

My Department has been in correspondence with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage concerning the circumstances surrounding weather events over the period 19th, 20th and 21st February 2022.  They have confirmed that the Local Authority system has not received reports of any flood or structural damage to premises as a result of Storms Dudley, Eunice or Franklin.

Accordingly, the necessary justification for instigating an emergency  humanitarian flooding relief scheme for these weather events does not exist. 

My Department remains ready to invoke an emergency humanitarian flooding scheme should the need arise at any future date.