Agency to pay almost €5m over flood damage

THE Red Cross is preparing to pay out almost €5m to people who claimed special compensation after flooding last November.

Spokeswoman Amy Pearson said the organisation would start sending out cheques to victims before the end of this month and should complete the task by early February.

"Independent assessors have been to see the damage. Most claims average €7,000-9,000," Ms Pearson said.

Most claims, come from people living in Dublin. In particular the Red Cross was swamped with claims from the Dublin 9 area. They processed 68 claims from people living in Richmond Road; Botanic Avenue (37); Milmont (76); Ballybock Road (16) and Clonliffe Road 28.

The Red Cross, which is administering the special humanitarian aid fund on behalf of the Government, also received 75 claims from people living in Meath and a further 20 from Westmeath.

Torrential rain in Cork also led to 56 claims, mainly from people living in the city suburbs of Blackpool and Togher. Several householders in those areas were flooded twice in the space of a few days.

Ms Pearson said a small number of compensation claims were also received from Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Wexford, Longford, Sligo and Donegal.

"The cut-off date for people to apply was December 13, although a small number of claims were allowed after that," Ms Pearson said.

Applicants for the special compensation package had to prove hardship through serious injury, homelessness and/or damage to their property.

Meanwhile, Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Tom Parlon, is inviting submissions for a review of Government policy on flood relief.

The review group, which held its first meeting last Friday, will look at several aspects of flooding and its impact on farmers, householders and businesses.

Mr Parlon said as a result of

severe flooding last year he had

invited agencies, including the Departments of Environment and Finance, the IFA and local authorities, to discuss a broad plan.

"We hope to have a report by next August which will clarify all the responses of different agencies to flooding," Mr Parlon said.

Those formulating the policy will try and identify areas which may also become at risk due to climate change caused by global warming. The last date for submissions to the review group will be Friday, March 28.

The minister said that the Red Cross had sent out a few compensation cheques before Christmas to those who had suffered severe hardship as a result of flooding.

"The rest of the cheques will go out shortly. The Red Cross has done a superb job," Mr Parlon said.