Storm Babet flood relief payments for businesses set to exceed €70,000

Vivienne Clarke

Businesses damaged and destroyed by flooding during Storm Babet last week could receive more than €70,000 under a plan being finalised by the Government.

The Irish Examiner and The Irish Times report that the Minister for Enterprise, Simon Coveney, will bring a memo to Cabinet on Tuesday morning which will offer payments that are “multiples” of the current €20,000 cap under existing business flood-relief schemes.

A senior Government source said it is “pushing for assessed and audited payments in excess of €70,000 for the businesses worst affected by Storm Babet”.

It is expected around 100 businesses that were flooded across Cork and Waterford could be in line for the enhanced payment, which will be administered by the Irish Red Cross.

The secretary general of the Red Cross, Deirdre Garvey, said she had briefed the Government on what funds will be required to assist businesses impacted by the floods last week.

Ms Garvey told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that the Red Cross anticipated the Government would increase the volume of funds required, which could then be dispersed later this week.

“We have clarified exactly what the process will be. This is a process that we've used before. What we are waiting for is the absolute financial limits and any exceptional cases that are mentioned.

“So for businesses affected by this, there's a very simple response and we make it easy for businesses. There's one email address. It's called emergencyflooding@redcross.ie. As soon as that decision is made by Cabinet, we get the nod and the form with the details finalised, details will go up on our website.”

Ms Garvey said affected businesses need to fill out and send a form, and once received the Red Cross will be able to make the first payment of either €5,000 or €10,000.

The Red Cross scheme is for businesses, while householders have access to a scheme that is run and administered by the Department of Social Protection called the Humanitarian Assistance Programme, Ms Garvey added.