Cabinet expected to extend flood relief package after damage in east of country  

Jim Codd in a dingy on the Haven estate in Rosslare, Co Wexford. Picture: Jim Codd/PA Wire

An enhanced funding package for businesses in the east of the country devastated by flooding is expected to be signed off by Cabinet this week.

Speaking in Seoul, South Korea, Trade Minister Simon Coveney said officials are working to get money to businesses and homes as soon as they can and an incorporeal Cabinet meeting may happen this week to give access to a similar scheme announced for Midleton in Cork.

Significant damage has occurred in counties Louth and Wexford as a result of heavy rainfall. 

Parts of Wexford were submerged, a bridge in Co Louth collapsed and dozens of businesses were flooded in Newry, Co Down.

Mr Coveney said he has to bring a proposal to Government to get approval to extend any funding scheme that was announced for towns in Cork and Waterford to the east of the country.

He said the payments made to businesses will depend on the severity of the flooding but for companies that have been devastated by floods, they will have the option of the enhanced scheme.

Cabinet recently signed off on an emergency relief scheme for businesses in Cork and Waterford that were destroyed by flooding accessing quick payments of €10,000 with audited and assessed relief of up to €100,000.

Mr Coveney said if necessary, there will be an incorporeal Cabinet meeting before the end of the week to approve the expansion of the enhanced scheme.

Flood water surrounds Magee's Bar in Newry Town, Co Down.. Picture: PA Wire

Mr Coveney said: "We don't have a statutory flood support scheme in place in a way that I can simply sign off on. I need to go back to government to get approval to extend the scheme that we would have announced for example for towns in Cork and West Waterford to the east coast.

Certainly the government would respond quickly on that and I'm already talking to my colleagues by putting that together.

He said homeowners affected by flooding need to contact their community welfare officers for support who can release funds quickly and on a case by case basis.

Businesses in the east of the country can apply for the standard flood scheme which is €5,000 upfront and then up to €20,000 on assessment.

He said: "But for businesses that were devastated by those floods that had an awful lot more damage than that, they could apply for the enhanced scheme which was €10,000 up front and then up to €100,000 on the back of a full assessment and so on of damage and so that that approach would apply to other parts of the country now as well where depending on the extent of the damage.

"I suspect most of the businesses will have flood damage that may be covered by up to €20,000 of support from the government but businesses that have had significantly more damage than that will will have the option of the enhanced scheme,” he added.