Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of humanitarian assistance payments applications that were submitted in respect of garages and sheds; the number of these applications approved; and the number rejected. [54083/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.

The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to prevent hardship by providing financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are unable to meet costs for essential needs, household items and structural repair. It is available as a support for households that experience unanticipated and exceptional costs in the immediate aftermath of a weather event.

The scheme does not cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses. It does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event, nor does it cover damage or losses that are reasonably expected to be covered by insurance policies.

The scheme does not cover any additional properties or structures that are not occupied and lived in as the primary residence. Information is not collated on the number of applications submitted concerning garages and sheds or the outcome of those applications.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.