THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD put in place protocol to ensure funding to help flood victims is properly advertised, a Dublin TD has said.
Joe Costello TD made the comments to TheJournal.ie as it emerged in today’s Irish Examiner that flood victims have claimed just €1.6 million of the €10 million package made available by the Government following the 2009 floods.
I think when the government is making funds available that it is very important that it is properly advertised and everyone one knows it is available.
Deputy Costello said he has received many complaints from people “saying that they don’t know the entitlements they have when this happens”.
He said the government should have protocol to ensure that such funds are properly and extensively advertised to ensure people don’t miss out on the chance to avail of such funding.
Deputy Costello also said that the funds should be dealt with by an independent agency such as the Red Cross and that this organisation should look after any funds allocated to the victims of the most recent flooding.
Of the leftover funds, Deputy Costello said:
I think it should be ring fenced – I dont think should go back into the Exchequer. It should be used for if another calamity or emergency like this occurs.
The Examiner reported that the Society of St Vincent de Paul was told it could not receive unclaimed money from the fund.
But Deputy Costello said he believed that some of the funds should go to the society because they are receiving a huge amount of claims and “are doing a tremendous job”.
Read: Government announces €10 million flood damage assistance fund>
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