Vol. 457 No. 3
73 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Finance the reason payments have not been made to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for these delays; the date on which payments will be made; the relevant payments to be made to each person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15288/95]
Funds totalling £1.148 million have been made available for humanitarian aid to the victims of the exceptional flooding which occurred earlier this year. Some £398,000 of this amount was received from the European Union. This was distributed by the Irish Red Cross Society on behalf of the EU.
An additional sum of £750,000 was provided by the Government for humanitarian relief. This is being distributed by the Irish Red Cross Society on behalf of the Government. Most of these funds, amounts of which are strictly confidential between the Irish Red Cross Society and the applicants, have already been paid out. The society has retained a small amount to deal with a number of claims from victims which are still under examination. These claims will be finalised as soon as the Irish Red Cross Society is in possession of all the information it requires.
The Government has also allocated a sum not exceeding £750,000 to assist people who must relocate from their existing houses as a result of the flooding. The Commissioners of Public Works have initiated contacts with all the people in the south Galway area who have applied to them to be considered for relocation under the Government's relocation package for flood victims. Information collected on these visits is being evaluated and will lead to further discussions with each applicant regarding the particular circumstances of their case.
Every effort is being made to ensure that formal offers of assistance will be made to qualified applicants at the earliest possible date.
