Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Tom Parlon has been accused of adopting a "blase" approach to flood relief after advising people in flood-prone areas against putting down less durable flooring.
Yesterday, the Green Party claimed Mr Parlon was advising people against putting down expensive carpets, while at the same time failing to implement adequate flood protection measures in parts of Dublin.
Last night Mr Parlon's office rejected the criticism and said the Minister's comments had been taken out of context from a wider interview about protecting against flood damage.
Mr Parlon made the comment during an interview on Dublin's Newstalk radio station in which he was promoting a new public awareness campaign about flooding.
He also advised people to remove valuables to upper floors of buildings in the event of flooding.
Yesterday, Green Party TD for Dublin South East John Gormley claimed such advice was of little value to residents in flood zone areas.
Three years ago millions of euro in damage was caused in the Irishtown and Drumcondra areas of Dublin and other parts of the country by serious flooding.
"I think my constituents will be quite alarmed by Mr Parlon's blase approach to this issue," said Mr Gormley.
"Telling people not to put down a good carpet on the ground floor will lead many people in my area to believe further floods can be expected. What they want is protection from those floods."
A spokesman for the OPW said Mr Parlon had been asked specific questions by the Newstalk presenter about examples of practical advice from a major new public awareness campaign on flooding by the OPW.
He also rejected suggestions that the Minister and the OPW were neglecting flood relief programmes.