Over 92,000 claims for compensation have been submitted in the wake of Storm Éowyn, which delivered record-breaking winds in January, according to data shared with TG4’s 7LÁ programme, reports RTE.
Winds reached speeds of 184km/h during the storm on 24 January, resulting in an estimated €200 million worth of damage and causing power outages for 768,000 electricity customers.
A financial support scheme was launched following the storm’s destruction, reports RTE.
The Department of Social Protection told 7LÁ that over 92,000 applications have so far been submitted under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
According to the department, more than 45,600 Stage 1 payments have already been issued, amounting to nearly €11.2 million, reports RTE.
Stage 1, which closed on 25 April, was designed to offer immediate help after the storm, providing emergency payments for essential needs like food.
The scheme’s second and third stages are still open for applications, reports RTE.
Stage 2 offers reimbursement for household goods such as furniture and appliances, while Stage 3 helps cover repairs necessary to make homes livable again, such as re-wiring and plastering.
Eligibility for both Stage 2 and Stage 3 is determined by a means test, reports RTE.
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