Small businesses affected by flooding as a result of Storm Eleanor can receive humanitarian funding support, the Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, has announced.

Sports clubs, community organisations and business with up to 20 employees who are unable to secure flood insurance will be able to access a humanitarian support contribution towards the costs of returning their premises to pre-flood conditions.

Features include the replacement of flooring, fixtures and fittings and damaged stock where relevant. The scheme will have two stages;

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• The first stage will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of the damage incurred, and will commence immediately. It is anticipated that this will meet the needs for the majority of those affected

• The second stage will provide a means to seek further support in the event premises have incurred significant damages above €5,000.

Announcing the initiative, Minister Kehoe said the Irish Red Cross will administer and make payments under the scheme.

"The Government has moved to have this scheme operational as quickly as possible and in a manner which is designed to be straight forward to best assist those who have been affected," he said.

"My thoughts are with the people who are suffering as a result of this flooding event. The humanitarian scheme will go some way to alleviating the hardship suffered by small businesses, sports clubs and community organisations, who have been refused flood insurance, and assist them in getting back up and running."

(LM/MH)