Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway Claire Kerrane has criticised the Government for providing zero supports for Businesses, including Farmers affected by Storm Eowyn.
Deputy Kerrane contacted the Department of Enterprise the week following the Storm and a further week later, received a reply from the Department of Enterprise which included the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme as a support. Kerrane shared this with a number of Businesses before being told by the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme that they would not cover Businesses.
Raising the issue in the Dáil yesterday, Kerrane said:
“There has been so much misinformation on supports for those affected by Storm Eowyn, not least for Businesses and Farmers.“The truth is there is no supports in place for either. This isn’t acceptable.“I was specifically told on a phone call with the Department of Social Protection that Sheds, once uninsured were covered under the HAS2, again, that’s since been said not to be the case.“I was contacted by a Farmer who had to repair a Shed at the cost of €6,000 after the last Storm, before Eowyn, he now faces the same cost again.“Today, I received a further reply from the Department of Enterprise which in the first half of their response they talk about insurance – something Businesses are well aware of, they also know any claim made now will see their premiums increase and so, that is something they will avoid. Nothing has been said to insurance companies about this by Government and I’ve made this call numerous times.“The second part of the reply talked about a commitment in the Programme for Government for an Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme and that this would be completed in a term of Government. The reply goes on to say this work will now to progressed urgently.“The latest reply is useless. To me, it is unacceptable that 19 days after the Storm, the Government clearly have no intention to provide supports to Businesses or to Farmers.“My party brought forward a Motion to expand the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to Businesses, Farmers, Sports Clubs and Community organisations – this is the right thing to do and Government should listen.”
