There could soon be “light at the end of the tunnel” for some of the Galway families worst affected by the devastating flooding of November 2009, according to Galway West TD Brian Walsh who has confirmed that a decision on a relocation grant, a life-line worth approximately €200,000 to each household, will be made before the end of this month.
The scheme was set up by the Department of Social Protection to provide support to a small number of families dotted around the country who were affected by the unprecedented flooding and who, nearly two years on, continue to experience difficulties with housing and are seeking to relocate rather than return to their own homes. Approximately 40 families, from Galway, Roscommon, Offaly and Tipperary, applied for the relocation grant scheme, however, as applicants must meet strict criteria it is expected that only half will be eligible.
It is understood that around 27 applications were received from Galway alone, one of the worst affected areas during and after the flooding, and that the majority of these could be successful in receiving the €200,000 grant which will allow them to move into new homes.
According to Fine Gael’s Deputy Walsh, who has been in regular contact with many of the affected families in Galway, the Government has allocated €4 million to the scheme and the Office of Public Works has been commissioned to carry out examinations of the properties affected by the floods and compile reports for the Department of Social Protection. The scheme criteria that must be met includes that relocation will only be offered where the cost of renovating damaged premises and the risk of recurrent flooding outweighs the cost of relocation. There is also a stipulation that where the Government has funded flood prevention works families in these areas are less likely to be considered. Deputy Walsh said that it is expected that around 20 of the applicants will actually require relocation as a result of the extensive flood prevention works that have been carried out in their areas since November 2009 and that a decision will be made by the Department of Social Protection and issued to the families who applied in the next two to three weeks.
Deputy Walsh said: “The information I have received from the Department is that 40 applications for relocation have been made and it has been suggested that 50 per cent, around 20 applications, would require relocation grant and be successful. I would expect many of these to be Galway applicants. The scheme has offered a vital lifeline to a number of families with young children who have been unable to return to their homes for almost two years.”
Referring to an Oranmore family which was the subject of a recent parliamentary question, Deputy Walsh said, The family have been forced to live in rented accommodation with their two children in the interim since their home was flooded by several feet of water in November 2009. The situation has entirely consumed their lives.” He continued: “Others have been reluctant to pay thousands of euro of repairs to their homes because they continue to fear the possibility of flooding occurring again. Families are also struggling to obtain adequate insurance cover for their properties since the floods. This has been a huge ordeal for many families in parts of County Galway but I am hopeful that there is now light at the end of the tunnel for many of these in the form of the prospect of relocation, and I expect confirmation of this to be issued to these people within the next three weeks.”
In response to the parliamentary question put to her recently by Deputy Walsh, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said: “The household of the persons concerned has been visited by an official from the department and a report of their circumstances has been completed. The department has received a report from the OPW in relation to the persons concerned and expects to be in a position to make a decision on the case shortly.”
