Taoiseach defends means test for flood aid

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to means-test humanitarian aid payments for the victims of recent flooding.

An initial fund of €10m has been authorised for households, with a further €2m being made available for agriculture.

Community Welfare Officers will administer the funds, but Labour says the normal means testing response should not apply.

Cowen told the Dáil that the means testing must apply.

"Obviously one seeks to avoid an overly bureaucratic response, but at the same time one has to be accountable for public monies," he said.

"So therefore, it is based on the experience and discretion of the community welfare service that this humanitarian aid fund is provided; augmenting, not replacing or substituting, but augmenting existing funding arrangements."