Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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568. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received under the humanitarian assistance scheme for stages 1, 2 and 3 following Storm Éowyn; the total number of applications received by his Department; the number of applications processed to date; the number of applications approved and rejected, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37408/25]

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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584. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of applications received by his Department under the humanitarian assistance scheme in respect of Storm Éowyn; if he will confirm the total value of applications received and the total value of applications approved; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of applications approved, by county, and the number refused, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37525/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 584 together.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Services, was activated on Thursday 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn.

The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to provide 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.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is operated in 3 stages. 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.

My department does not currently have a breakdown of all claims registered by stage and by county, refused by county, nor does it hold the total value of applications received.

However, as of 1^st July 2025, I can advise that 95,607 claims for the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme have been registered and 57,848 claims have been awarded, with over €14.3 million being paid in respect of Storm Éowyn related claims.

The total number of claims registered include 3,300 applications for Stages 2 and 3. A total of 103 claims have been awarded in respect of Stage 2 and 3 applications with just under €175,000 being paid in respect of these.

There are 36,851 Stage 1 applicants, whose claims have been decided and have not been awarded a payment in respect of Storm Éowyn. A person may request a review of a decision and review requests are undertaken by a Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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.

The tables below provide details as of 1^st July 2025. Table 1 outlines the number of claims registered, claims awarded, and expenditure by stage since Storm Éowyn. Table 2 outlines the number of applications registered and awarded by county.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Tabular Statement

Table 1- Number of claims and total expenditure by Stage 1, 2 and 3 in relation to Storm Éowyn

Table 2 – Number of HAS applications registered and awarded by county in relation to Storm Éowyn

Note: It should be noted that the figures for applications registered are for Stage 1, 2 and 3 applications. Claims awarded include 103 Stage 2 claims.