The European Commission has disputed a claim by the Department of Finance that Ireland would only be entitled to emergency funding to the tune of €6m for last November's flooding.
A Commission spokesman confirmed to RTÉ News that if the government's application to the EU Solidarity Fund was accepted, then under the rules the Government would qualifty for €12.5m.
Under the normal rules the EU solidarity fund is triggered if the total damage caused is more than 0.6% of a country's Gross National Income - if the damage is more than €935m.
In Ireland's case, the Government estimates the damage to be €500m, in other words, 53% of the normal threshold.
Therefore the Commission will regard Ireland's case as 'an extraordinary regional disaster.'
In such cases Ireland can only qualify for the fund only under very exceptional circumstances and if specific criteria are met.
These include the criterion that the damage was done to a single coherent area where more than half the population is seriously affected, with serious and lasting repercussions on living conditions and the economic stability of the region.
If these conditions have been met, however, then the Commission will recommend that the Solidarity Fund be used.
According to European Commission spokesperson Dennis Abbot: 'Ireland would be entitled to a percentage of the total direct damage. According to the regulations that percentage is 2.5%. So if the total direct damage is €500m, Ireland would normally receive €12.5m from the EU Solidarity Fund.'
In fact Ireland would be entitled to further support from European structural funds, even to the tune of an extra €12.5m.
This would not be new money - it would simply be funds that the government has not yet drawn down.
Under the structural funds rules Ireland can qualify for support for things like environmental protection and risk prevention. Under these headings, therefore, rebuilding flood defences and water treatment plants could qualify for this kind of support.
The structural funds run from 2007-2013 and Ireland's rough entitlement is €900m.
No figures on lost school days
Separately, it has emerged that the Department of Education has no figures regarding the number of school days lost due to the recent bad weather.
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe told the Dáil that there is no requirement on schools to inform the Department if they have to close due to bad weather, or heating and water problems.
Regarding schools making up days lost, the Minister said that it is up to the board of management of each school to ensure the school course is completed.
