Relief fund to aid flood victims

AFTER the
devastating floods that deluged the capital last month, there was some good
news for affected householders when the Government announced that it is to set
up a

?¬10 million fund to assist victims.

The Government
has established a cross-Departmental/Agency Working Group, chaired by the
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, to oversee the
State’s collective response to those affected by the flooding.

The working
group will identify any gaps that may exist within existing services to address
the consequences of the flooding for individuals, families and
communities.

If additional
services are required, including humanitarian assistance, the group will report
to Government with proposals to address these issues.

Minister for
Social Protection, Joan Burton, who made the announcement, said:

“I have been
to visit many of the families who have suffered from the flooding and I have
seen first-hand the damage to some people’s homes.

“The Government
recognises the devastation suffered by many families arising from these floods.

“Staff from the
Department of Social Protection have already made house-to-house calls to
individuals they have identified as being vulnerable at this difficult
time.

?

Dublin North
Central TD Aodhán � Ríordáin (Lab) welcomed the flood relief fund.

“The fund will
be of most comfort for those families left without house insurance since the
last major flooding problems of July 2009,

? said Deputy Ã? Ríordáin.

“I have been
campaigning on this issue for many years.

“I know too
well the enormous hardship that so many homeowners and small businesses have
experienced because of flooding.

?

“I want to
thank the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, for listening to the
concerns of residents, particularly in areas in my own constituency like
Donnycarney and Artane.

?

Dublin North
Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) also welcomed the funding announcement.

“This is a very
welcome scheme and it will provide much needed relief for people who’ve
suffered significant losses with damage to carpets, flooring and furniture as
well as extensive damage to their homes,

? said Senator O’Brien.

“I have visited
residents of the Kinsealy-Melrose area of Kinsealy and the Holywell area of Swords.

“There are many
cases unfortunately of residents suffering flood damage for the third time in
the last two a half years.

?

Senator O’Brien
is calling on local authorities to act on the information on flooding that he
has given them.

“My colleague
Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF) has also done extensive work on this issue as well,

?
he added.

“We are calling
on the local authorities to ensure, as much as possible, that remedial work on
flood defences, particularly the clearing of culverts to channel excess water,
is carried out.

?

Dublin North
East TD Terence Flanagan (FG) said the fund would contribute to easing the
stress and disruption caused to many families.

“Many of my own
constituents have been severely affected as a result of the floods,

? he stated.

“Flooding
affected Riverside Estate, Dublin 17, Raheny village and Ardmore Estate, Dublin
5, Griffith Avenue and parts of Donnycarney.

“These people
need help urgently and the scheme should serve to restore their circumstances
to some level of normality.

“My thoughts
are with all the families affected by the flooding.

?

Deputy Flanagan
has urged all those requiring assistance to complete the Humanitarian
Assistance application form available on the Department of Social Protection’s
website or alternatively from their local Community Welfare Officer.