Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 1

Written Answers. - Flood Relief.

Denis Naughten

Question:

144 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money provided in each of the last ten years to compensate householders following the flooding of their homes; the circumstances surrounding the allocation of this funding in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16600/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen)

Funding was made available through my Department to people throughout Ireland who suffered damages as a result of flooding in early 1995 and 1996.

In 1995, a total of £1.148 million was provided by way of a general humanitarian assistance scheme for the victims of flooding. A sum of £750,000 was provided by the Exchequer, which was supplemented by approximately £398,000 provided by the EU. This scheme was administered by the Irish Red Cross Society on a confidential basis between that organisation and the individual applicants. Accordingly, it is not possible to distinguish between aid given for damages to homes and other losses incurred as a result of flooding.

A further £750,000 was also provided that year under the humanitarian assistance-home relocation scheme for the victims of flooding in 1995 whose homes were damaged beyond economic repair or flooded for a prolonged period. Admin istration of this letter scheme was assigned to the Office of Public Works.

In 1996, almost £520,000 was provided towards a general humanitarian assistance scheme for the victims of flooding in that year; £280,000 humanitarian aid was allocated by the Exchequer with the balance of approximately £240,000 being provided by the EU. These funds were again distributed by the Irish Red Cross Society and no details are available of the division between damages to homes and other losses.

Details of moneys expended to assist victims of flooding in each of the last ten years are set out in the following table:

Year	Source	Humanitarian Assistance Scheme£000		Home Relocation Scheme£000
1990		Nil		Nil
1991		Nil		Nil
1992		Nil		Nil
1993		Nil		Nil
1994		Nil		Nil
1995	Exchequer	750		Nil
	E.U.	398		Nil
1996	Exchequer	280		279
	E.U.	240		Nil
1997	Exchequer	Nil		174
1998	Exchequer	Nil		124
1999	Exchequer	Nil		2
2000	Exchequer	Nil	Balance to be expended	171