The Government has been in contact with EU officials in Brussels to discuss the possibility of accessing funding to assist those affected by flooding, Taoiseach Brian Cowen confirmed today.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Cowen said the matter was “in hand” and that such applications for funding would follow the normal process.
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan will also meet representatives of small businesses and banking representatives to assess how best to assist those businesses damaged by flooding, Mr Cowen said.
He said the €10 million approved by Cabinet yesterday for a Humanitarian Assistance Scheme was in addition to any funding that would be provided in the normal way through community welfare officers.
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore asked that those who had suffered the trauma of having their homes and businesses damaged by flooding not be put through a means test in order to access community welfare funding.
Mr Gilmore said the normal, mean-tested community welfare response was “not appropriate in this situation” and he asked that it be varied. He also asked that a review be carried out of water management in the areas affected by flooding, and said that in some cases a review of developments on flood plains may be necessary.
The Taoiseach told the House everyone was “conscious of the fact that this is a changing and evolving situation all the time”.
He said the Government was seeking to avoid an “overly bureaucratic” response, but that at the same time it had to be responsible for public monies.
“Everyone is very conscious of the fact that this is a changing and evolving situation all the time,” Mr Cowen said.
Ms Coughlan will, following her meeting with the Small Business Forum today, liaise with the banks to see what they can do to assist. She was also dealing with county enterprise boards at local level.
Mr Cowen said the question of “what lessons are to be learned” was of course something that “should be looked at”. But the immediate need was to address matters arising as a result of the flooding.