Over 4000 Leitrim applicants for Humanitarian Assistance Payment after storm

New figures show that 4,387 people in Leitrim affected by Storm Éowyn applied for the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) with 75,733 applications lodged in total coming to almost €12.8 million

Galway had the most applications with 30,592 and Mayo had the second highest with 17,303 with  County Roscommon had the third highest with 8,702 applications. 

The new figures provided by the Department of Social Protection to TG4, said there were 93,007 applications registered in respect of 75,733 people totalling almost €12.8 million for HAS that was opened after extensive damage caused by Storm Éowyn in January of this year.  

Currently there are 22,149 applicants, whose claims have been decided and have not been awarded a payment in respect of Storm Éowyn.

Speaking to the Leitirm Observer, Cathaoirleach Cllr Paddy O'Rourke said there "there seemed to be an inconsistency when it comes to applications; some people when they applied, seem to get a response straight away and others who made similar applications and even at appeal stage were turned down."

He continued: "There were varying reports in varying parts of the county on how successful these  applications were. I fully appreciate that it's taxpayers money and has to be administered as conscientiously as possible but that doesn't explain the inconsistency. This was a 'one in a hundred years' events and was well flagged beforehand that it was coming to get us yet when it did strike it took the system a while to kick into gear."

He said that he was aware of cases where "there are still people who don't have a landline service to their home following an event that took place on January 24. I only discovered that last week. That is astonishing."

READ MORE: Gardaí investigate fraud allegation at former Leitrim solicitor’s office

He said that following a number of meetings and correspondence with new Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is Michael Healy-Rae, "there hasn't been a whole lot of positive moves made due to prevent a further reoccurrence of this. We are six months on and only four months that season where you could have another wind storm. If that were to happen while the trees are in full leaf, it would be an ever greater catastrophe."

He concluded that "parts of south Leitrim here were some of the most worst affected parts of the country. The ESB has still not been given the clearance they require to go in and cut down these trees that are within striking distance of their power lines when they fall."

The report on HAS payments on 7LÁ will be aired on TG4 this evening (Tuesday) at 8pm.