Cabinet to consider memo on flood aid after Storm Bert

There will be an incorporeal Cabinet meeting to consider a memo from Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke.

The Cabinet will be asked to approve the opening of the Emergency Humanitarian Aid Scheme for small business, community, voluntary and sporting bodies for damage caused by flooding arising in counties Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry any other counties affected by Storm Bert.

A small business is defined as one with up to 20 employees.

Grants will be provided for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies who, through no fault of their own, could not obtain flood insurance, but subsequently experienced flood damage to their premises.

The Irish Red Cross, having previous experience of administering the Humanitarian Emergency Aid Scheme, will administer the ad hoc emergency scheme on behalf of the department.

Once approval is given for the scheme to be established, businesses and organisations affected by flooding can apply for relief through the Irish Red Cross website.

The scheme will provide a one-off emergency humanitarian grant contribution towards the costs of returning business premises and community, voluntary, and sporting bodies to their pre-flood condition including the replacement of flooring, fixtures and fittings and damaged stock.

Financial assistance will be delivered over two stages.

An initial application leading to a quick payment which will be capped at an upper limit of €5,000. The cap of €5,000 will mitigate the overall exposure arising from any potential overpayments.

While a small number of applicants may have incurred significant damages and may seek assistance for more than €5,000.

In this case, a second stage will require a more detailed assessment of loss incurred.

This will provide the scope for a further payment with the total payment available (initial and subsequent) capped generally at €20,000.