Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
268. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount of money paid out under the humanitarian assistance scheme per annum from 2010 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35729/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting times for payment under the humanitarian assistance scheme in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35730/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works (OPW) 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 purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair.
Expenditure under the scheme since 2010 is some €5.3 million and a yearly breakdown of this expenditure is provided in the tabular statement. There was expenditure of €1.8 million to assist householders affected following the flooding last winter, which was the wettest winter ever recorded in Ireland.
Following a severe weather event staff, in my Department’s Community Welfare Service, closely monitor the situation on the ground and engage with the relevant local authorities and other agencies to ensure supports are provided to those affected as swiftly as possible. Emergency income support payments to cover essential items such as food, clothing and personal items are quickly issued in the immediate aftermath of the event. Financial supports towards the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items may take longer as it is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes will become known. The longer term financial support covers necessary remedial works and can include plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting. It could take several months before this final stage of the response is completed. Statistics are not maintained on the average waiting times for payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Expenditure under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme 2010 - 2015
|
Year |
Outturn €000 |
|
2010 |
1,045 |
|
2011 |
1 |
|
2012 |
714 |
|
2013 |
118 |
|
2014 |
1,189 |
|
2015 |
233 |
|
2016 estimated outturn |
€1,800 |
