Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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727. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will give details of the humanitarian assistance schemes in place for those affected by flooding; if a householder in Dublin, who was flooded in August 2023 due to a severe weather event and who cannot get insurance cover anymore due to previous flooding, can apply for humanitarian assistance; the income limits in place; the role of an organisation (details supplied) in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47743/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 766 together.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My Department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the humanitarian assistance scheme.

The humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated to assist householders affected by a number of recent weather events across the country. The scheme was also activated in August 2023 to support those affected by Storms Antoni and Betty. This scheme remains open to those affected by these weather events to apply for assistance.

The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.

• Assistance is not available under the scheme for losses which are already covered by insurance.
• The scheme does not cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.
• Any additional properties that are not occupied and lived in as the applicant’s primary residence are not covered.

• €30,000 to €50,000 for a single person;
• €50,000 to €90,000 for a couple; and
• €10,000 to €15,000 per dependent child