James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will offer rapid intervention on an urgent case of a person (details supplied) whose mobile home was entirely destroyed during storm Éowyn, thus deeming them homeless. [7936/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) is to prevent hardship by providing financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and/or severe weather events and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repairs. The scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) in my Department.

In dealing with emergency events, the CWS generally adopts a three-stage approach.

• Stage 1 provides emergency support payments (food/clothing/personal items) in the immediate aftermath of the event.

• Stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items.

• Stage 3 is to identify what longer term financial support is required, including plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.

Stage 1 of the HAS 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 applications paid have generally been to meet the additional cost of food, in the context of people being unable to either refrigerate or cook food while they had no power. The scheme does not pay for damage that is normally covered by insurance policies, such as damage to property. Exceptions can, and are, made where a person can demonstrate a valid reason for non-insurance. Payments are in these case subject to an income test and in some cases to an assessment of costs by a qualified loss adjuster. This is important to ensure that the Department is not used as a default insurer by households with resources to cover their own insurance risks.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned submitted applications on 04/02/2024 and on 21/02/2024 for assistance under Stage 1 of the HAS. These applications were processed, and the person concerned was awarded a payment of €350.00 which was issued to him by cheque on 04/02/2024 and a further payment of €200 which was also issued to him by cheque on 21/02/2024. The person concerned was also advised to apply for assistance under Stage 2 of the scheme and referred to the Local Authority for emergency accommodation.

My Department is currently working hard to process the large volume of HAS claims that has been received since Storm Éowyn happened on the 24th of January. To date no HAS 2 application for assistance has been received from the person concerned. Upon receipt of a completed application and relevant supporting documentation, the person’s claim will be assessed, and he will be advised of the outcome in writing.

I trust this clarifies the matter.