State may set up fund to help flood victims

The Government is to consider a humanitarian relief fund for people who have suffered hardship following severe flooding in recent days.

Business owners and householders face a multi-million euro bill for storm damage, mainly in the south and east. A spokesman for the Office of Public Works said a decision had yet to be taken by the Government and that the matter would be considered once the bad weather had abated.

Humanitarian relief schemes do not compensate for losses. They provide "assistance for where extreme hardship has been suffered" as a result of death, serious injury, homelessness or damage to home, according to official guidelines.

A humanitarian relief fund established in 2002, following flooding in a number of areas including Cork and Dublin, resulted in €13.5 million being paid to 1,400 people.

An average payment of €10,377 was paid to flood victims in the Ringsend and East Wall areas of Dublin. The Irish Insurance Federation (IIF), meanwhile, said it will take several weeks before the full extent of storm damage becomes apparent. Floods in February and November 2002 cost an estimated €87 million.

The IIF's non-life manager, Mr Michael Horan, said: "There is no doubt that the flood has already caused extensive damage, particularly in Munster. However, it is too early at this stage to estimate the cost of the flood - this figure will not be available for at least three to four weeks."

Insurance policy-holders with household buildings or contents insurance are usually covered by flood damage, while damage to cars is covered by comprehensive insurance policies, according to the IIF.

It also said insurers usually pay for the cost of temporary repairs or for the cost of alternative accommodation if a house becomes uninhabitable.

The IIF has advised householders and business people to check the full extent of their policies and contact their insurer or broker as quickly as possibly. It also says policy-holders should keep copies of receipts.

"We advise householders to take sensible precautions to prevent further damage to their property, without risking injury to themselves. For example, furniture and valuables may be moved to an upper storey," Mr Horan said. The stormy conditions have also disrupted sea travel plans for hundreds of hauliers, commuters and holiday-makers.

Irish Ferries said yesterday it was forced to cancel its services to France and its fast ferry services to Holyhead. It is hoping to resume normal service today. In one instance 260 passengers on a Rosslare-Pembroke ferry were forced to stay on board for 17 hours in a passage that normally takes just 4½ hours. The Isle of Inishmore ferry was unable to berth at Pembroke and spent 12 hours off the Milford Haven coast in rough seas.

"We did what we did to keep people comfortable by opening up all the cabins and providing free meals.

"We were only able to dock on Thursday morning once the weather had abated," an Irish Ferries spokesman said.