Flood crisis: ‘We want to be generous’, says Coveney

The Government wants to be "generous" to flood victims, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said, as it emerged that no limit has been placed on the level of compensation that can be paid out.

Under a scheme controlled by the Department of Social Protection, couples with a household income of €50,000 or less could get 100 per cent of the cost of repairing flood damage.

Mr Coveney said there was a number of new ways homeowners, businesses and farms could claim money to help them recover from flood damage.

He said he recognised communities were exhausted from battling to save their houses and businesses for the last month, and said the Defence Forces could be called upon for help.

“If people need help they should ask for it. Local authorities are co-ordinating that help,” said Mr Coveney.

He said the flood support scheme had been extended to include a wide range of household incomes, despite the means testing.

“If a couple are out of their home because of flooding, with the means test, they’ll get full compensation for the cost of putting their homes back together,” he said.

The amount paid is calculated according to the severity of the damage and the household’s ability to pay the costs.

No limit

A spokeswoman confirmed the Government had not set a limit on what can be paid to an individual household under the scheme.

Mr Coveney said if the couple had two children, there was an extra €10,000 added per child.

“And even if you’re above the means test, you simply have to make a 1 per cent contribution to the cost of putting your home back together for every €1,000 above the means test.

“If you’re a €100,000 [household income], there’s still a lot financial support available for you and people should avail of that.”

A one-parent household has the same income limit that applies to couples of €50,000 and €10,000 for each dependent child.

The scheme states for single people with a gross income of €30,000 or less, 100 per cent of the allowance is available.

An example used by the Department of Social Welfare site was of a single person with an income of €35,000 getting 95 per cent of the amount allowable.

Mr Coveney said under the small and medium enterprises programme, which is being administered by the Irish Red Cross, businesses could apply for an immediate grant of up to €5,000, and €20,000 for more extensive damage.

People can go to welfare.ie to find their local number to call. The closing date for applications is January 31st.

Hardship fund

The Minister has introduced a hardship recognition plan and €2 million scheme for farmers to be paid at market rate for fodder destroyed in the bad weather.

This support will cover the loss of silage, hay, straw and concentrates due to flooding that have not been covered by insurance.

Application forms will be available from Thursday on the Department's website and from Teagasc offices, with a closing date of Friday, January 22nd.

Irish Farmers Association (IFA) volunteers have been helping people with their flood defences and to clear debris, and members have been asked to house animals from flooded farms.

A spokeswoman said funding for hardship cases could be applied for through local IFA officers, who would decide which farms qualified for financial assistance.

Revenue said in a statement it was “very aware” of the difficulties flood victims faced, as taxes such as VAT, PAYE, PRSI and the Local Property Tax are due.

It has advised homeowners whose main residence is flooded and who are receiving help through the Department of Social Protection Humanitarian Relief Fund to apply to have their 2016 LPT payment deferred.

Business owners that have received help from the Irish Red Cross’s small business Fund should contact the Collector-General’s office to agree on the extra time needed to file returns.

The Cabinet agreed earlier this week to give €10 million in additional funding for local authorities to cover the cost of clean-up operations, bringing the total allocation to €18 million.

Helpful numbers

LPT Helpline on 1890 200 255

Collector-General’s office on 1890 20 30 70

Department of Social Protection 1890 50 00 00

Department of Agriculture 076106 4408 or 01-6072379

Department of the Environment 1890 20 20 21

Citizen’s information 0761 07 4000

Teagasc Advisor 076 111 3555