Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently in the process of finalising details of its Emergency Humanitarian Support Scheme to small businesses, sports clubs, community and voluntary organisations, unable to secure flood insurance, as a result of the recent flooding event in Co Wexford.

In relation to damage to property which has been caused by this event, property owners should in the first instance get in touch with their insurance companies as businesses that suffer damage or loss of property from severe weather events should ordinarily have insurance against that risk.

More generally, there are a number of existing emergency humanitarian support schemes that are operated by different Departments for other sectors including households and farms which may be impacted by severe weather events.

These include the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection, which provides financial assistance to households which are not able to meet costs for essential needs immediately following flooding or severe weather events. It is designed to alleviate hardship rather than provide full compensation for damage. The scheme is activated by the Department of Social Protection in response to a severe weather event and is administered by the Community Welfare Service.

The Department of Agriculture also operate Flood Damage Relief Measures for farms affected by flooding events.