€3.27m paid to householders hit by Babet flooding

More than 1,100 payments have been made to members of the public in Cork under a scheme set up by the Department of Social Protection to come to the aid of people impacted by the flooding caused, particularly in Midleton and East Cork, by Storm Babet last October, Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed.

The Social Protection Minister was responding to a Dáil question from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who raised the issue of the amount of applications received for aid from people in the East Cork area and the amount of aid paid to those applicants. A large number of households in Midleton and in other areas throughout the county were badly impacted by the flooding and sought assistance because, due to previous flood events and, in particular, the lack of a flood relief scheme in Midleton, they were not offered insurance cover.

Speaking in the Dáil, Ms Humphreys explained that the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme had been set up in the immediate aftermath of ‘emergency weather events’.

“Statistics are maintained by county on the number of payments made on the scheme,” she said. “Since Storm Babet, which occurred on October 18, 2023, over 1,100 payments have been made to members of the public in County Cork up to the end of June, 2024, totalling almost €3.27m.

“The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated to assist householders affected by a number of recent weather events across the country,” said the Minister.

“This scheme remains open to those affected by these weather events to apply for assistance.

“The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.

“If any household affected by the flooding in County Cork needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.”