Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1416. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on a humanitarian assistance scheme application submitted by a person (details supplied); if all required documentation has been received and assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19389/25]

Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1444. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on a claim made under the humanitarian assistance scheme (details supplied); if he will investigate the reason no correspondence has issued to the applicant to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1416 and 1444 together.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS), administered by my department through the Community Welfare Service (CWS), was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn.

Humanitarian assistance is available in three stages.

Stage 1 of the HAS is available to people while they are directly impacted by the storm. It targets people who need immediate supports. This stage of humanitarian assistance is to help people with the essentials of life – food, water, shelter and warmth.

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 humanitarian support helps to make a person’s accommodation habitable again in the aftermath of a severe weather event. It generally includes funding for work such as plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.

The purpose of HAS 2 support is to provide financial support to eligible householders whose primary dwelling i.e. their home only, was damaged by severe weather events. The scheme is designed to provide hardship alleviation, as opposed to compensation. Assistance towards the replacement of fences, gates, sheds or other outbuildings is not covered by this scheme. Furthermore, it does not pay for damage that is covered by insurance policies, nor does it cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned submitted a HAS 2 application for assistance to repair the roof of their workshop that was damaged as a result of Storm Éowyn.

This claim has subsequently been disallowed on the grounds that HAS does not cover outbuildings which are not considered part of a primary dwelling i.e. house only. Furthermore, HAS is not intended to cover commercial/business losses i.e. a workshop for business purposes, which should be appropriately insured.

The person concerned will be notified of this outcome in writing and will also be afforded the opportunity to seek a review of this decision, should they be dissatisfied with the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter.