Community hubs stay for people still without services
Emergency Response Hubs are assisting people with basic needs such as water, hot food, phone charging, broadband access and shower facilities.
Local authorities are coordinating a local level humanitarian assistance response to the needs of people who have been significantly impacted by the storm.
Local Coordination Groups are now in place in 19 local authority areas, with 29 hubs now operating across Cavan.
More than 280 Emergency Response Hubs have been set up in the counties most affected by service outages. Emergency Response Hubs are assisting people with basic needs such as water, hot food, phone charging, broadband access and shower facilities.
A key focus is on ensuring the welfare of vulnerable or isolated people. A number of organisations including Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, An Post, An Garda Síochána, HSE and Local Link are checking in on vulnerable people and any concerns will be raised through the Local Coordination Group for follow up.
Alongside this, the public are strongly encouraged to check in on neighbours, family and friends and to report any concerns to Gardaí.
Local Coordination Groups are now in place in 19 Local Authority Areas – Cavan, Clare, Cork County, Donegal, Galway County, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick City and County, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
There are 285 Emergency Response Hubs established, including community led hubs with local authority financial and administrative supports:
Cavan – 29 hubs
Clare – 7 hubs
Donegal – 27 hubs
Galway City – 3 hubs
Galway County – 38 hubs
Kerry – 9 hubs
Kildare – 1 hub
Laois – 2 hubs
Leitrim – 16 hubs
Limerick City and County – 1 hub
Longford – 5 hubs
Mayo – 36 hubs
Meath – 19 hubs
Monaghan – 15 hubs
Offaly – 10 hubs
Roscommon – 24 hubs
Sligo – 8 hubs
Westmeath - 5 hub
Wexford – 30 hubs
Further details of where hubs are located are available at www.gov.ie/StormResponse.
Local authorities will communicate about all supports being made available on their websites, social media and via local media.
Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
The Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary has confirmed that the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by Storm Éowyn.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme mitigates hardship by providing income tested financial assistance schemes to households affected by a severe weather event.
The Department of Social Protection adopts a three-stage approach:
Stage 1: Provide emergency support payments (for food, clothing) in the immediate aftermath of the event. This Stage is not income tested and is based on the immediate need of impacted individuals
Stage 2: Replace white goods and basic furniture
Stage 3: Focus on damage to a household’s primary residency
The scheme will not cover losses covered by an insurance policy.
The income limits for the scheme are:
€50,000 for a single person
€90,000 for a couple
€15,000 per dependent child
Reduced or tapered level of support may be provided in cases where your household income is above the limits.
If any homeowner affected by severe weather needs to access these supports, emergency Community Welfare Service contact details are available here: gov.ie - Customer Notices.