“Many” people impacted by Storm Éowyn are still awaiting assistance almost two months after the storm first hit, Independent TD Carol Nolan has said.
Responding to a parliamentary question raised by Nolan, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary confirmed that nearly 66,900 applications for humanitarian assistance had been submitted as of 14 March. Of these applications, only 22,872 Stage 1 claims have been approved, with payments totalling over €5.2 million and averaging €228.96 per claim.
“I welcome the continuing operation of stage 2 and 3 of the scheme, and I am urging all persons impacted by Storm Éowyn to apply for assistance immediately,” Nolan said.
“I am aware however that there are many people who have yet to receive a response to submitted applications and I am engaging with the department to see how this process might be escalated given that we are almost 2 months into the post-storm period.”
Minister Calleary confirmed that additional resources, including extra staff, have been assigned to handle the outstanding applications to avoid any “undue delays”. He noted that applications are being prioritised based on urgency, with immediate needs such as essential living expenses being addressed first.
Stage 1 payments specifically cover the immediate essentials such as food, water, shelter, and warmth, primarily to assist those who were without power and utilities directly following the storm. Minister Calleary clarified that these payments do not serve as general compensation for damages or losses that could reasonably be covered by insurance policies.
Stages 2 and 3 of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, which provide funding for replacing essential household items and carrying out home repairs such as plastering, flooring, electrical rewiring, and painting, remain open for applications. However, Minister Calleary stated that closure dates for these stages will be communicated in advance, urging residents to submit their applications promptly.
Storm Éowyn caused significant disruption and damage across multiple regions in January 2025, leaving hundreds of thousands without basic utilities and forcing many families into temporary accommodation while their homes were repaired.