2026-02-19

12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports currently available to businesses that have been damaged following flooding or other storm-related damage; the total amount under each support scheme that was allocated in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13205/26]

The question relates to supports available to businesses damaged by flooding. We have just been through Storm Chandra and, on some level, people believe the rain will never actually stop. It is about ensuring we have fit-for-purpose defences. In my county's case, we need the OPW, the local authority and Uisce Éireann to ensure works are done, both short term and long term. We will be dealing with more of this, so we need the supports in place.

My Department operates the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme for small businesses and voluntary, community and sports organisations affected by flooding as a result of extreme weather and unable to obtain flood insurance through no fault of their own. The scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department. The Department has activated the enhanced emergency humanitarian flooding scheme for businesses impacted by Storm Chandra and the subsequent heavy rainfall from 26 January to early February. The enhanced scheme is for small businesses of up to 50 employees or whole-time equivalents, and community, voluntary and sports organisations. It provides a contribution towards the cost of returning a business premises to its pre-flood condition. There are two payment stages - an initial payment of up to €5,000, and then a second payment subject to assessment of the damages by an independent, professional assessor. Under the enhanced scheme, the total funding available is capped at a maximum of €100,000 per small business or community, voluntary or sporting body. These funds may be used to replace damaged flooring, fixtures, fittings, and stock with the aim of enabling businesses to reopen as soon as possible. As of 18 February 2026, the Irish Red Cross has received 57 applications for the enhanced emergency humanitarian flooding scheme. Total funding disbursed to date is €52,000, which represents initial payments of up to €5,000. Further payments will be made, up to a total of €100,000, once independent professional assessments are carried out. Further information and application forms are available on the Irish Red Cross website. The closing date for applications is 6 March 2026. The standard scheme, where the maximum contribution is capped at €20,000, was activated twice in 2025. It was first opened in early November due to flooding caused by a severe weather event in the Bantry area, and it was subsequently reopened in mid-November to assist those affected by flood-damage in County Wexford as a result of Storm Claudia. All claims have been processed under it at that particular time have paid out €82,000.

It is vital that we have a standing support scheme. As I said, a huge piece of work needs to be done to ensure we are not looking at this constantly from here on out. When I think of my own county and the town of Dundalk, it is not only the CFRAM flood protections that are necessary but the Uisce Éireann infrastructure is not up to scratch. Unfortunately, the dates we are looking at are 2030 and 2033. That needs to be sped up. We have also engaged with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, from a point of view of those smaller works that can be done and personal property protections. They are absolutely necessary. In the long term, that will reduce the amount of moneys that would need to be paid out. It is vital that this is available not only to sport and community organisations but also businesses. We need to have a conversation with insurance companies. It needs to be a very strong conversation. Does the Minister have any information, even though it is still open to 6 March, in relation to the applications that are in at this point?

I need to bring up the treatment of staff in the Merck facility in Arklow. The Minister is well aware that there is a planned closure for 2028. I know that within 24 hours, the Minister was there on site-----

Sorry, Deputy Brennan, is the question on flood protection?

It is in south County Wicklow, which is badly affected.

I am sorry; the supplementary question has to be related to the initial question.

I commend the fact that the Minister has significantly increased the sums available when it comes to the humanitarian relief under storms. He did reference Storm Claudia, particularly with regard to the impact that had on County Wexford and the humanitarian relief which was open to businesses and sports clubs under that scheme. Unfortunately, one of the clubs that was impacted in a big way was Woodenbridge Golf Club but the problem is that because it is over the border in County Wicklow, it was not deemed eligible under Storm Claudia. Bizarrely, it escaped some of the worst effects of the recent Storm Chandra. My office has made a request to the Department that it would consider the case of Woodenbridge Golf Club and the impact that Storm Claudia has had on it. I ask that the Minister intervenes in this case because it was similarly impacted by the floods but because it is in the wrong county it was excluded from the scheme.

We are making the scheme as accessible as possible. I am prepared to work with Deputies in any areas that they wish to raise. It is also important to point out that the minor works scheme has gone up to €2 million from €750,000, which also is a big asset to businesses in the sector. As I said, we want to progress. That is why we have increased €20,000 up to €100,000 to reflect the seriousness of it. I am happy to work with the Deputies in question. On Deputy Brian Brennan's issue, Merck is a significant and an important issue for his constituency. I met with so many of the employees with him a number of months ago. I assure him that the full industrial relations machinery of our State will be made available to support them. I know he has organised a number of meetings with my State agencies. I commend Deputy Brennan on the work he is doing supporting the workers.

It was an absolute necessity that the money was increased. We are going to be dealing with this from here on in, so it is about ensuring we can react. From the Department's point of view, it is absolutely necessary that there is engagement in terms of those works that can be done to ensure we have greater levels of protections, be they natural or unnatural protections. There is a huge number of areas that are still impacting on issues that have not been resolved over many years. I am thinking in the last while of some of those businesses that have been impacted. It is the likes of the Carrickdale. I know Councillor Antóin Watters has been working alongside them to try to get some of the short-term mitigations. When the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, visited Blackrock, he was in McQuillan's Pharmacy. We need to look at protections for the likes of that. Short-term mitigations can be introduced before the long-term CFRAM protections and everything. The likes of the Spirit Store in Dundalk was affected by one of the recent storms and was flooded. We all know the danger of flooding and the impact it can have. The conversation with insurance companies is absolutely necessary because they are getting off the hook.

I hear what the Deputy is saying. We have made progress across 52 schemes over the past four years. Huge work was done in Athlone in my own constituency. Work was done in Bandon, County Cork, as well. A number of these schemes have been very complex and there have been very different challenges in respect of each, either through the planning code or the complexity of delivery of them. CFRAM is very clear. There are 150 schemes that face one in 100-year events, 1% risk, that we are working through as a Government. We had a meeting last week to progress and fast-track a number of these schemes. From the Taoiseach down, we have given the commitment that we are working with minor works in terms of some remedial works that we can carry out now that can save businesses in the interim while we are waiting for the delivery of the significant schemes. They are a challenge. We have a record level of investment there to support businesses. We have to ensure that. I know that when a small family business is flooded, it is devastating. It has a devastating effect on their family. It is the same in the case of a club. We have seen the pictures and heard stories that paint thousands of words. We will be at the forefront of supporting them in the months ahead.