Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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112. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have appealed the Department's decision to refuse them the humanitarian assistance payment in light of Storm Éowyn; the number of these appeals which have been successful; if his attention has been drawn to any cases where there were two applicants with identical applications and circumstances but one was refused assistance while the other was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20966/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Services (CWS) was activated on Thursday 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) is operated in 3 stages.

Stage 1 of the scheme is to address hardship in the immediate aftermath of a severe weather event and provides emergency support payments to cover food and other essential costs. This stage of humanitarian assistance is to help people with the essentials of life – food, water, shelter and warmth.

Just under 89,000 applications have been registered to date. Every individual application is assessed, and payments are made based on the information provided by the applicant and the eligibility of the request under HAS.

The majority of payments made to people to date as a result of Storm Éowyn have been Stage 1, to meet the additional cost of feeding their families in the immediate aftermath of the storm where people remained without power and/or water. The scheme does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event.

A person may request a review of a decision and review requests are undertaken by a SWA Review Officer. The review process may lead to a fresh examination of the initial decision made or include further contact/engagement with the customer and/or a requirement for additional supporting information or evidence to be provided, in order to assist the Review Officer with their consideration of the review request reasons.

5,060 review requests have been received to date and over half of the requests have been finalised. In the majority of finalised review cases, the person has provided additional information/clarification on review which results in a payment being awarded. Where a review has yet to be finalised, this is generally because further information or clarification is awaited from the applicant.

The amount an individual person receives depends on their individual circumstances. A number of variables determines the amount a person is entitled to including the household composition, the length of time the household was without power and/or water, and the type of expenditure incurred for which financial support is requested. If the Deputy has a particular case, the details can be forwarded to my office for follow-up.

I trust this clarifies the matter.