Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
47. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to update the emergency response payment, recognising that apartments are becoming a significant proportion of Irish dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/26]
View answer88. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarity on the duties of landlords to tenants as regards payments made under the second HAS designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 88 together.
The Emergency Response Payment is administered through my Department's Community Welfare Officers. The purpose of the scheme is to assist in minimising hardship by providing financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events. Apartments are not excluded from support.
Emergency Response Payments are generally made under three stages.
Stage 1 payments are made to households in the immediate aftermath of severe weather events for items such as essential food, clothing and bedding. These payments are not income tested, are based on the immediate need of the individuals impacted and are also available to persons in rented accommodation.
Stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods and basic furniture in a person's primary residence and is available to individuals in rented accommodation where the tenant is the owner of the essential household item that requires replacement. The scheme does not cover household items owned by the landlord. Landlords may be supported under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme.
Stage 3 covers the cost of essential structural repairs such as plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting, once the property is owned, occupied and lived in as the applicant’s primary residence.
Unlike stage 1 payments, stage 2 and stage 3 payments are subject to income tests. The scheme is not intended to be a compensation scheme for losses that should be covered by household insurance. This is important to ensure that people who have resources do not use the State as a default insurer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
