The €10 million humanitarian fund provided by Government for victims of the flooding crisis will be means tested.

The fund will be administered on the ground by the local Community welfare services.

The Taoiseach also allocated an additional €2 million to farmers affected by the floods.

Yesterday the amount was criticised by Opposition parties for being too meagre.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin says the fund is for those worst affected.

“What we’re talking about is a fund that will help individuals and families who have got hardship – we’re not talking here about businesses or agriculture” she said.

“Business should be taken up by insurance, and hopefully a lot of houses would be covered by insurance as well”.

“There’s also then the Minister for Agriculture has announced a fund, particularly that’ll be targeted at fodder because we know there’s going to be difficulties” she added.