Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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618. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports available to people who lost their home due to storm Éowyn and now have to find alternative accommodation while they rebuild, particularly in the context that emergency accommodation in Galway has been full for months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3186/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.

Under the Housing Act 1988, it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.

Decisions on the assessment of households for homeless services, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter for the local authority concerned. My Department will ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. In addition, my colleague Dara Calleary, T.D., the Minister for Social Protection, activated the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme on Thursday 23 January 2025 in advance of the arrival of Storm Éowyn. The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme continues to be available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by the storm.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Services section of the Department of Social Protection. Support is available in three stages. Stage 1 of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to people who need immediate humanitarian support while they are without power and/or water. Payments under Stage 1 are not income tested and are generally for essential food and clothing based on the immediate need of impacted individuals. In addition, a number of people in very challenging circumstances have been supported with the cost of alternative accommodation under Stage 1. The level of support provided reflects reasonable rates based on local cost availability. The scheme has also supported the purchase of necessary items such as gas heaters, torches, etc for people without power and/or water. Community Welfare Officers have been visiting people affected by the storm and providing support.

The Community Welfare Services section is also working closely with the Local Coordination Groups in local authorities. If any homeowner affected by severe weather needs to access these supports, Community Welfare Service contact details are available from the Department of Social Protection website on gov.ie.

Stage 2 support generally involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items after a severe weather event. Stage 3 is to identify the longer term financial support required to make a person’s accommodation habitable again in the aftermath of a severe weather event, and includes funding for plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.

Stages 2 and 3 humanitarian supports are subject to income limits: €50,000 for a single person; €90,000 for a couple and €15,000 per dependent child. Reduced or tapered level of support may be provided in cases where a household‘s income is above these limits. The level of payment depends on how severe the damage is and a person’s ability to meet these costs.

Humanitarian aid does not pay for damage that is covered by insurance policies (for example, spoiled freezer food, storm damage), nor does it cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.