An additional €3.5 million has been allocated to help victims of February’s floods, Minister of State, Mr Martin Cullen said today.
The increase brings the total value of the humanitarian aid package to €8.5 million, which is being used to "alleviate the loss suffered by victims of the flooding", said Mr Cullen.
The distribution of aid is being organised by the Irish Red Cross. Chairman, Mr David Andrews, welcomed the announcement of additional funding: "We are currently progressing with the distribution of funds to the victims of last February's floods and I am pleased to learn that this €3.5 million will now be made available to us."
The Irish Red Cross Flood Relief Scheme was set-up upon request from Mr Cullen immediately following the floods last month.
To date 690 applications have been received for humanitarian aid. Of these 690, 93 per cent came from private homes and 7 per cent from businesses. Eighty one per cent of the applications from households came from households in the Dublin area and most of these cheques have now been sent out.