by Alan Jacques
FUNDS will be allocated in the coming weeks to families in St Mary’s Parish whose homes and belongings were destroyed when the Shannon burst its banks during the severe flooding in February of this year.
A committee chaired by Michael Murphy of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and comprised of representatives from SVP, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Irish Red Cross and the Department of Social Protection, have evaluated 169 applications for assistance.
All monies allocated to the St Mary’s Parish Church Flood Relief Fund and the St Mary’s Aid Flood Relief Fund were donated by the public and will be distributed to the successful applicants as soon as possible.
In assessing the applications, the committee acknowledged the substantial support the residents received from State bodies and voluntary organisations since the flooding in February 2014 and their efforts to assist particularly needy cases who were experiencing the greatest hardship.
Funds were also allocated to organisations, mainly sporting, within the Parish which cater for the youth and whose facilities or members had suffered as a result of the flooding.
St Munchin’s Community Centre, which played a key role in assisting the community in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, is also administering a separate relief fund for flood victims in Limerick City. Individuals who suffered losses during the flooding and did not apply for funding can get application forms from the centre.
