The European Parliament has approved Eur13 million in EU Solidarity Fund aid to Ireland in response to the severe floods that hit the country in November 2009. The Eur13 million will help remedy the effects of the inundations, which caused severe damage to the farming sector, residential property and businesses as well as to the road network and other infrastructure.
The Irish authorities put the total direct damage caused by the disaster at Eur520.9 million. The Solidarity Fund, which was set up to provide support for the population of regions hit by disasters, has an annual ceiling of Eur1 billion.