Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2010
343 Deputy Pádraic McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to introduce a relocation scheme for houses affected by the recent flooding; if full market value will be given for the houses affected to enable families to move to a new home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5474/10]
View answerThere is no specific relocation grant scheme in place in my Department for households affected by flooding and there are no plans to introduce such a grant. While it is a matter for any household in private owner occupation or in the private rental sector to have in place the necessary insurance arrangements to deal with natural disasters such as flooding, the Government is providing very significant levels of funding assistance for those worst affected by recent flooding. To support these households, the Government has allocated an initial sum of €10 million to fund a humanitarian assistance scheme, which is being administered by the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The scheme, which is means tested, is intended to provide emergency financial assistance to households who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs in the period immediately following flooding. It covers emergency income support payments to those in need and damage to a person's home and its basic essential contents. Payments in respect of structural damage caused by flooding may also be considered. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, also announced that in excess of €70 million would be provided over the course of late 2009 and into 2010 to help those affected and fund work to minimise the risks of future flooding incidents. In relation to local authority owned housing, the management and maintenance of their housing stock is primarily a matter for authorities themselves. However, where significant capital costs may be involved in carrying out works to local authority houses to deal with damage caused by November's flooding, I have indicated that my Department will look to assist authorities in this regard, where it is approached to do so, from within the overall housing budget. While no requests for such assistance have been received to date, my Department has been engaging with local authorities in affected areas to determine the extent, if any, of damage to their stock. This matter will be further discussed at the current round of housing action plan meetings. Any funding requirements to restore stock to viable use will be addressed in this year's housing allocations to be finalised in March.
