Humanitarian Assistance Scheme will be extended - pressure from Mayo TD

ISSUES around the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, introduced to provide financial compensation to those who lost clothing, food or personal items as a result of Storm Éowyn, have been raised in the Dáil.

Many people who applied to the scheme have received rejection letters stating that the 'financial support for these items is not covered under the HAS'.

Mayo Aontú TD Paul Lawless brought the issue to the floor of the Dáil this week, directly addressing the Taoiseach and asking for clarity on the scheme.

In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has advised that the scheme is being extended.

Deputy Lawless told the Taoiseach: “Storm Éowyn left almost one million people without power and water, many of those people for over two weeks.

“In response the government introduced the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. The scheme was designed to meet the needs such as food, clothing and personal items but I have received hundreds of emails and calls into my constituency office of constituents who have received rejection letters clearly stating that the scheme does not cover food, clothing and such items.”

Deputy Lawless challenged the government on the promises they made and how so many people have been left short with no idea the scheme was closing.

“The goalposts keep moving and the most recent change of the goalpost is essentially the deadline. The deadline now appears to have passed. The scheme appears to have ended despite the fact that the people had no idea that this was happening.”

After pressure from Deputy Lawless the Taoiseach advised that the scheme has been extended and they have recognised the need for a more comprehensive bespoke scheme to deal with the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

Deputy Lawless welcomed this decision, stating: “So many people in Mayo and indeed across the country need an extension of the scheme as well as greater clarity. We cannot allow people to be left in the lurch when they are reliant on this scheme for financial support.

“I will keep this issue in the spotlight until we are satisfied that the concerns of those affected by Storm Éowyn have been addressed.”