Exclusive: Payments of €70k for businesses hit by Storm Babet

Further status orange and yellow rain warnings have been issued for areas in the south of the country

Simon Coveney is to bring proposals to Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday for a new scheme for towns particularly badly hit by Storm Babet, such as Midleton. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Businesses damaged and destroyed last week by Storm Babet could receive more than €70,000 under proposals set to go to Cabinet.

The Irish Examiner understands senior Government members, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Trade Minister Simon Coveney, were working on the final details of the package on Sunday night. 

A senior Government source said it is “pushing for assessed and audited payments in excess of €70,000 for the businesses worst affected by Storm Babet”. 

It is expected around 100 businesses that were flooded across Cork and Waterford could be in line for the enhanced payment which will be administered by The Red Cross.

This new flood relief scheme will run alongside an existing one which offers payouts of between €5,000 and €20,000 which will be maintained for most companies.

In addition, Mr Coveney is to bring proposals to Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday for a new scheme for towns particularly badly hit by Storm Babet, such as Midleton.

The proposed scheme will see a quick payout of €10,000 to the worst affected businesses as well as the assessed and audited payouts in excess of €70,000, more than the €40,000 that had been reported as being available on Sunday.

The Irish Examiner understands further supports will also be announced, including access to low-cost loans in order for businesses who have already spent money on initial clean-up costs to get back up and running.

Mr Coveney and his department officials held meetings with the Red Cross on Friday evening and through the weekend. More details of how businesses could avail of financial support in excess of €70,000 will be announced on Tuesday. It’s understood Government plans to have funding released to business owners as soon as Cabinet approval is secured.

Writing on a discarded piano on Midleton Main Street, in the aftermath of last week's storm.

Officials are focusing on ensuring companies will be able to get quick access to payouts to help with repairs.

The new Government proposals came as Met Éireann issued a Status Orange rain warning for Kilkenny, Wexford, and Waterford, while 13 counties were issued with a Status Yellow alert.

The Orange warning for Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford, will be in place from 4am on Monday morning and will run for 24 hours. A Status Yellow rain alert has been issued for counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway and will remain in place until 6pm on Monday. The forecaster said heavy rain and thunder were expected, leading to localised flooding and difficult travel conditions.

A separate Status Yellow rain warning issued for Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, and Roscommon will be in place from 4am Monday morning until 4am on Tuesday.

In Midleton, local people have rallied around and helped with clearing damage and delivering supplies, but many of the town’s residents are still left in limbo, unable to plan for a future until they learn what supports will be in place.

Eileen O’Connell, who runs the Midleton Hub charity, said: “Among the things people need are dehumidifiers.

“But those that don’t have them and live in houses that were flooded, they are having to dry their homes with open fires from their fire places.” 

She said private businesses and supermarkets had offered essentials like skips, cleaning products and food, while a pest control company had been on hand to help with rats appearing due to water rising from sewers.

One of the many businesses badly affected was Midleton Greenway Bikes and Bites, whose restaurant and bike hire shop in part of what is known locally as Cuddigans Yard, at the back of the Main Street.

As well as all the cars in the yard being destroyed, Deirdre and Fiona O’Driscoll - who run the bike hire shop - say they didn’t just lose their cars but their entire stock of electric bikes were also damaged, possibly beyond repair.

“You try and put a brave face on everything, but at night you just wake up crying your eyes out,” Deirdre Roberts said.

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