Thousands in Leitrim applied, but less than half got HAS storm grant aid

Just 1,328 of the 3,315 Leitrim households who applied for emergency supports under the Government’s storm relief scheme have received payments—sparking frustration over how the aid has been handled.

The issue was raised by Cllr Enda McGloin at the March 24 meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District, where he questioned the consistency of how the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) was administered following Storm Éowyn.

“This whole system has become frustrating and inconsistent,” he said. “In the early days, people were getting payments there and then. Now they’re being told to go to their insurance for food they had to throw out.”

McGloin said some families got €300 immediately, while others who applied later received just €30—or nothing at all.

“Genuine people who went two weeks without electricity are being left behind. There’s a clampdown now because of a few questionable applications, but it’s the honest ones who are losing out,” he told the chamber.

Nationwide, 66,887 applications were submitted under the scheme, with €5.2 million paid out. In Leitrim, over €363,000 was issued in relief payments—but that still leaves more than half of local applicants with nothing.

“This isn’t just about money—it’s about fairness and trust in the system,” McGloin said. “We need transparency on how these claims are being assessed now, because the criteria seems to be shifting week to week.”

Leitrim was among the top 10 counties for total applications, and remains one of the hardest-hit areas. Other counties receiving significant payouts included Galway (€1.86 million), Mayo (€995,823), Roscommon (€468,110), Cavan (€416,953), and Longford (€380,524).

McGloin has called for a review of the entire scheme, warning that local families who suffered genuine hardship during the storm feel “forgotten and left out in the cold.”

Applications from Northern Ireland made their way into the Republic’s humanitarian assistance scheme following Storm Éowyn—despite the scheme being strictly for residents in the South.

The Department of Social Protection confirmed that claims came in from counties Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, and Tyrone, as revealed in a parliamentary question from Longford TD Micheál Carrigy. While no payments were issued for these applications, their inclusion has raised eyebrows among local reps and residents alike.

“People were clearly chancing their arm,” said McGloin. “It’s a scheme for people in this jurisdiction who were hit hard by the storm. There’s frustration out there—and rightly so.”

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, activated on January 23, was set up to support households impacted by power outages and loss of essential utilities. Nationally, nearly 67,000 applications were received, with €5.2 million paid out to date.

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