Irish Red Cross helps more than 40 flood-hit households
The humanitarian organisation launched an appeal in the days after the Jun 28 flood to help residents in Douglas, Clonakilty, Blackpool, Glanmire and Ballyvolane whose homes had been damaged.
Its secretary general, Donal Forde, said people responded generously and, as of last week, the flood fund stood at €40,000.
“Within just a week of the floods, we were able to release the first cash grants,” Mr Forde said.
“To date we have distributed approximately €29,400 between 43 households.
“By working closely with the community welfare service within the Department of Social Protection, we were able to quickly identify the neediest and ensure that they received support as soon as it was possible.”
He stressed that affected households can still apply for assistance — through local community welfare offices.
Meanwhile, Cork County Council will not suspend pay parking in flood-hit Douglas.
The majority of councillors believe the so-called goodwill gesture would not benefit the town centre.
At a meeting in County Hall yesterday, Cllr David Boyle (Ind) said many businesses were still finding it difficult to operate. He claimed trade would be boosted by a suspension of paid parking for the next three months.
He was backed by Cllr Seamus McGrath (FF) who said the losses incurred by the council from such an act would pale into insignificance with the €3.9m cut Environment Minister Phil Hogan had heaped on the local authority by reducing its Local Government Grant.
Cllr Deirdre Forde (FG) said it cost €370,000 to introduce pay parking in Douglas and it was done to provide more custom for businesses as, prior to that, commuters were clogging up parking spaces.
She said there had been a dramatic increase in the number of cars parking in pay zone areas.
Cllr John A Collins (FG) agreed with her as did Cllr Tim Lombard (FG) who said suspending the charge would not benefit businesses.
His main concern, he said, was that the local authority would carry out flood relief works to such a degree that businesses would get insurance cover again.
Cllr Paula Desmond (Lab) said: “I don’t have a great deal of time for empty gestures. We must follow up speedily with the insurance industry. That is the single most urgent way we can help the people of Douglas.”
County manager Martin Riordan said the council would do everything it could for ratepayers and residents to make sure there was no repeat of the flooding.
He said he would also be meeting with the insurance industry on the issue.
However, Mr Riordan said he didn’t believe taking away pay parking would benefit businesses and added that he had been told this by some of them.
“I don’t believe it’s an appropriate gesture. I’m not in a position to suspend it.”
