Some 66 families hit by floods draw down emergency funds

Families directly impacted by major flooding in Donegal have been given €150 per person in financial aid to cover emergency costs such as clothing and food.

Sixty-six families have come forward to avail of the emergency funding provided by the Department of Social Protection.

Donegal County Council is placing families whose homes have been damaged by the flooding in private rented accommodation, and 40 households have availed of the accommodation support to date.

A Government source involved in the flood relief effort indicated there was no hard limit on the amount of funding available to help families affected by the flooding. “As much as is needed to get families back on their feet” would be provided, the source said.

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Extreme weather last week led to several flash floods and landslides in Donegal that damaged an estimated 400 homes.

The Irish Red Cross has been asked by the Government with administering an emergency scheme to assist small businesses, community groups and sports clubs affected by the flooding. The Government is due to make a formal announcement outlining the scheme early this week.

It is believed the scheme will be broadly similar to a compensation fund run by the Red Cross to help small businesses and community clubs affected by severe flooding in 2015.

Insurance

The previous scheme allowed groups that did not have flood insurance to apply for compensation of between €5,000 and €20,000, to help repair or refit their business or club following flood damage.

A second stage of funding will also be made available to families to help replace household furniture and items ruined or lost in the flooding. The Department of Social Protection is running the family humanitarian assistance fund from offices in Buncrana and Carndonagh.

Joe McHugh, Government chief whip and Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs, said the relief effort "continues to call on anyone in need to get in contact with the Department of Social Protection".

Mr McHugh, a TD for Donegal, also said “work on roads and bridges continues apace, and I know the council are working non-stop on this aspect of the recovery”.