Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
420. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if the means test for the humanitarian assistance scheme includes a capital assessment; the number of persons per county who have applied for relief under the humanitarian assistance scheme as a result of the recent flooding to date; the length of time to process the applications; the average payment made under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9634/14]
View answerThe Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as flooding.
The humanitarian assistance scheme, which is income tested, is available to assist people whose homes were damaged by the recent severe weather and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair as a result of the damage. The objective of the income test is to determine the household’s capacity to meet the costs of restoring their home to a habitable condition by considering all household income, including that derived from capital, when determining entitlement to payment. For example, a family consisting of a couple and two children with a gross household income of €70,000 or less will receive 100% of the amount allowable in respect of their application. For each whole €1,000 of household income above the €70,000 the couple will be required to make a personal contribution of 1% toward the amount allowable. The amount allowable in any particular case refers to the amount the officer administering the scheme determines is required to replace essential losses and to make any essential repairs. Further detail on the humanitarian assistance scheme and the income test for single persons and families is available on the Department’s website at www.welfare.ie.
In dealing with emergency events of this nature, the Department generally adopts a three stage approach as follows:
- Stage 1 is to provide emergency income support payments (food, clothing and personal items) in the immediate aftermath of the event. A relatively small amount of financial assistance is generally provided initially with payments around the country ranging from €100 to €500 depending on family size. The response on the ground to the current flooding had been primarily focused at this stage with immediate payments issuing mainly in respect of food, clothing, toiletries and accommodation.
- Stage 2 generally involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items. It is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes will become known. In the last week, applications have started to be processed under this phase in Limerick in respect of white goods, furniture, etc. with payments ranging from €2,000 to €4,000. Payments under this phase are normally processed within 2 to 3 working days of the receipt of a valid application and supporting documentation.
- Stage 3 is to identify what longer term financial support or works are required. It could take several months before this stage of response commences and this involves a cross Departmental/Agency response. Works carried out can include plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting. Payments under this phase will generally take longer to process as homeowners establish the cost of repair by securing builders’ estimates and the extent of the loss is verified, usually by a loss assessor, in cases where significant amounts are claimed.
The Government has not set a limit on the amount that can be paid to an individual household under this scheme. Levels of payment depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs ensuring that the funding is appropriately targeted. The information available shows that in response to previous flooding events, payments have issued to individuals ranging from approximately €50 to €28,000 under this scheme.
As of 21st February 2014, some €206,000 financial assistance under the humanitarian assistance scheme has been paid in respect of 405 claims, of which 323 were in respect of the Limerick area. The average payment made in 2014 is €508 per claim which in most cases relates to the stage 1 phase of emergency income support. It is envisaged that more substantial payments will be made as the number of applications increase in respect of stages 2 and 3 as outlined above. Details of the payments made under the scheme on a county basis in 2014 are provided in the following tabular statement.
Any person continuing to experience hardship as a result of the recent weather events should contact the Department’s local representative administering the supplementary welfare allowance scheme who may be able to offer assistance.
Tabular Statement: Humanitarian Assistance payments 2014 (as of 21 st February)
|
COUNTY |
No of Payments |
Expenditure |
|
LIMERICK |
323 |
€149,314 |
|
WATERFORD |
26 |
€27,021 |
|
GALWAY |
12 |
€7,582 |
|
DUBLIN |
2 |
€6,955 |
|
TIPPERARY |
9 |
€3,095 |
|
CLARE |
9 |
€3,008 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
1 |
€2,250 |
|
WEXFORD |
6 |
€1,750 |
|
CORK |
5 |
€1,700 |
|
OFFALY |
2 |
€1,000 |
|
KILKENNY |
5 |
€770 |
|
MAYO |
1 |
€674 |
|
KERRY |
3 |
€602 |
|
CARLOW |
1 |
€300 |
|
Total |
405 |
€206,020 |
