Government ministers have signed off on funding humanitarian support and the cost of rebuilding the buildings destroyed in the Creeslough filling station explosion.
Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys, spoke to reporters at a press conference on the Budget’s €1.4billion cost of living supports package, where she also revealed the State will pay for the Creeslough clean-up.
The funding will come partly through her department from an existing €10million humanitarian fund which was set up to provide help for victims of natural disasters like flooding and storm damage.
Read More : 'We want to walk with you': Hundreds turn out for funeral of Creeslough victim
Later, a Government spokesman gave more information on how far the Government is willing to go to help those affected by the Creeslough tragedy.
He said that the Government’s ministers were “united” in their ambition to “do everything” they can to help the victims of the Creeslough tragedy.
This will initially include help with everyday items like household goods and even food.
But he added that the humanitarian fund is for “property damage” and so when the spokesman was pressed if this means the fund would pay for the reconstruction of the buildings destroyed in the explosion, he said, “absolutely.”
And he said that the Government were “in it for the long haul” in their support of the Creeslough community, with future funding available for services such as psychological counselling to be paid for too.
The humanitarian fund has a means test of €70,000 per household, but the Government will leverage funding from other schemes, such as the additional needs payment and community welfare schemes, if necessary.
Ms Humpreys told reporters this afternoon: “I know that the funeral of Jessica Gallagher is taking place as we speak and the funeral of Martin McGill takes place later on this afternoon.
“So, just to say that our thoughts and prayers are with the family today and with the families that have been bereaved over the days ahead, it’s a very difficult time for them all.
“This morning Cabinet gave approval to extend access to the humanitarian fund to households directly affected by last Friday’s devastating incident in Creeslough.
“The system comes under my department, Social Protection.
“It’s normally used to help households who have been affected by floods and given the heartbreaking events that have taken place in Creeslough, we are going to make the funds available to households that have been directly impacted.
“I’m very conscious that over the next few days this small community are going to endure some very difficult moments, but can I just say that the Department of Social Protection community welfare officers are on the ground there working with the community leaders.
“We are here to help and provide any community assistance that we can in the days ahead.
“And the fact that we are including the humanitarian fund as well as our other supports gives us even more flexibility to ensure we can give them all the supports they need at this most difficult time.”
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