| Less than 10 per cent of the 10 million fund | | | | A spokesperson for the Department of Social and |
| set up by the government to aid people who | | | | Family Affairs said, "The 1.4 million spent on |
| were the worst affected by last years floods has | | | | the scheme to date is based on the level of |
| been used in the eight months following the | | | | essential needs of the qualified individuals. The |
| disaster. | | | | department was given permission by Government |
| As little as 1.4 million of the financial support | | | | to spend up to 10 million as required, so it is |
| has been spent, repairing homes, shops and | | | | not a question of money going back to the |
| buildings that were ruined during the torrential | | | | Exchequer. There are still likely to be further |
| storms that hit Ireland at the end of 2009. | | | | requirements of funding from this allocation." |
| The Department of Social and Family Affairs said | | | | Payments that were handed out included for the |
| that the little take up of the assistance fund was | | | | replacement of carpets, beds cookers and |
| because the vast majority of the repair costs | | | | washing machines. The payouts also covered |
| were being covered by insurance policies. | | | | medical bills and emergency income support |
| The funding that has not been used is expected | | | | payments. |
| to be ring-fenced and made available to assist | | | | The largest payment made to one person was |
| during future flood catastrophe payouts. | | | | for 25,000. Households in Galway received the |
| The government reacted to a multi-million euro | | | | highest share of the fund with 422,104 being |
| flood damage bill and set up the fund to help | | | | handed out between 337 victims in the flood hit |
| make means-tested payments to those who | | | | area. |
| were not covered by insurance and could not | | | | The region that received the second highest |
| meet the 'essential needs' of living. | | | | payout was Cork with payments totalling 381, |
| More than 3,149 payments were made by Local | | | | 641, shared out between 495 households. Clare |
| Community Welfare Services to 1,290 people | | | | was the third biggest recipient of the flood fund, |
| since the scheme was introduced in November | | | | receiving 264,911 paid out to 101 people. |
| 2009. | | | | |