Approval sought for flood relief scheme

CABINET will today be asked to approve a support scheme for small businesses or community groups hit by flooding during severe weather events.

Under the plans, flood-damaged businesses will receive a payment of up to €5,000, with scope to apply for up to €15,000, following a more detailed assessment.

The scheme has the backing of ministers Paul Kehoe and Heather Humphreys.

It is being geared towards small businesses and community groups, as well as voluntary and sporting bodies who find themselves affected by flooding in a severe weather event and have been refused flood insurance. The scheme is designed to be able to offer them a ‘quick’ payment to deal with the initial damage.

While it is anticipated this sum is ‘likely to meet the requirements of the majority of applicants’, there is also scope for a further payment of up to €15,000 following a ‘more detailed assessment of the loss incurred’.

Previously, there have been four such schemes since 2015 to deal with the impact of Storm Desmond, Storm Eleanor and the flooding in counties Donegal and Laois.

These were operated on a more ad-hoc basis in conjunction with the Irish Red Cross. But this new scheme will be a permanent fixture and administered when required by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. It is hoped this will offer clarity to firms that cannot get insurance to protect themselves against flooding.