Humanitarian Assistance Scheme left farmers 'high and dry' - TD
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on social protection, and rural and community development, Deputy Louise O'Reilly has condemned the government for failing to adequately support householders, businesses and farmers affected by Storm Éowyn "in a manner that is fair, equitable, and timely".
Speaking ahead of moving a Dáil motion on the issue, Deputy O’Reilly said that the government had backtracked on promises made, with two thirds of applications to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) rejected.
The motion is set to be debated in the Dáil today, (Tuesday, April 1).
According to O'Reilly, just 45,744 of the 133,774 applications made have been successful.
The TD for Dublin Fingal West claims that many of those worst affected reported that applications for compensation for essential food and personal items were arbitrarily rejected without explanation.
She described the €10.5 million paid out under the HAS as "blatantly insufficient".
According to the Department of Social Protection the scheme "provides income tested financial assistance to households affected by a severe weather event".
It is administered by the Community Welfare Service.
Deputy O'Reilly has claimed that the government has "turned its back on communities," and left many households, farmers and businesses "high and dry".
She said: "Many of those worst affected reported that their applications for compensation through the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme for essential food and personal items were arbitrarily rejected without explanation.
“It is clear that the HAS lacked structure and clear guidelines with claims assessed on an ad-hoc case-by-case basis, with no clear instructions on which items merited compensation and which did not."
The Sinn Féin TD also claimed that HAS was closed for an "unspecified period of time, without informing the public".
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael misled people in the worst affected areas of the state without providing them any avenue through which to seek recourse.
"That is why Sinn Féin is tonight bringing forward a motion calling on government to adequately support householders, businesses and farmers affected by Storm Éowyn in a fair, equitable, and timely manner,” she added.
