Call for Red Cross aid to help Fermoy flood victims
Those impacted by the recent flooding fault in Fermoy are being urged by TD Seán Sherlock to apply for the Red Cross Humanitarian Flood Relief Support Scheme.
“I spoke with both the Tanaiste and the Minister for Social Protection in the Dáil in the aftermath of the flooding last Thursday. Both were receptive to receiving applications from businesses and residents who were impacted by the flood damage caused on Thursday morning,” Deputy Sherlock said.
The scheme is targeted at small businesses (up to 20 employees) and has two stages.
The first stage can commence immediately and provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of damage incurred.
In the event that businesses have incurred significant damages above €5,000, the second stage provides a means to seek further support. However, this will be a more lengthy process requiring a more detailed assessment.
INSURANCE
Deputy Sherlock highlighted the long-running campaign by locals over the years to get flood insurance, noting that the recent events have potentially set that campaign back significantly
“We now have the spectre of insurance able to point to the potential flaw in flood defences, and will continue to refuse flood insurance. The campaign we have built since the investment of the flood defences to ensure there is insurance, is now under jeopardy,” Deputy Sherlock added.
Deputy Sherlock said it’s ‘very clear now’ that there needs to be an investigation in respect of what happened in Fermoy.
“And that has to involve the OPW and Cork County Council, but I think that that needs to be an independent report, it needs to come from outside of those two organisations so that we can absolutely ensure transparency in relation to the events that led to the flooding of residents and businesses.
He went on to claim that the investigation ‘can’t be about State entities creating their own internal reports’.
Last week, Deputy Sherlock called on the government to provide funding for local business following the damage caused by a faulty pump on Rathealy Road, stating: “The most important thing that I’m focusing on now is seeking to ensure that the government provides funding for through the Red Cross programme or the humanitarian programme for those businesses and residences that have incurred serious losses and damage in the Fermoy areas, so that they will be compensated and be able to recoup the costs of damage done to their properties.”