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Christmas cash grants for Donegal
flood victims
21.11.17
PEOPLE affected by the
flash floods three months ago in Donegal are being
invited to apply for cash grants in the run-up to
Christmas.
Some €75,000 in humanitarian funding is to be
disbursed next month by the Irish Red Cross which
has already distributed more than €60,000 to 122 of
the worst-affected families.
The freak weather event in August caused tens of
millions of euro in structural damage to family
homes, businesses, roads and community amenities.
The Irish Red Cross confirmed that its Donegal Flood
Appeal attracted donations totalling €135,000 in the
aftermath of the storm. Among the biggest
contributors were a group of Donegal expats who
organised a huge charity event in Boston and a
country music concert headlined in Letterkenny by
Daniel O’Donnell.
“The Irish Red Cross now wishes to begin to disperse
the remaining funds in the Donegal Flood Appeal
which have been publicly raised. In the first week
of December the Irish Red Cross will begin
processing the forms and dispersing the funds,” the
charity said in a statement.
The deadline for applications for the special
discretionary grants is November 30.
The grants will be based on the amount of money in
the fund and the number of applications. Applicants
will be required to sign a declaration allowing the
charity to verify the authenticity of claims. See
Redcross.ie |
Meanwhile, Donegal TD
Charlie McConalogue hit out at the Government for
the delay in payments to farmers affected by the
flash floods.
In the aftermath of the flooding, the Department of
Agriculture announced a compensation scheme for
farmers however "not one payment has been made to
date," said Deputy McConalogue.
“The floods which hit in August were unprecedented
and left many farms on the Inishowen peninsula
extensively damaged. Large swathes of land were
submerged and the subsequent wet weather has meant
that many of these farms are still completely
waterlogged.
“Shortly after the event, the Department of
Agriculture opened up a compensation scheme and
despite the fact that the closing date for
applications was the end of September, not one
farmer has received payment," he added. |
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