Flooding continues to be possible in many areas of the country and the risk is not confined to those areas with yellow rain warnings in place, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) has warned.
The NECG and the Humanitarian Subgroup met again on Friday to prepare for the risk of further flooding over the weekend. Local response teams will continue monitor the ongoing situation in their areas very closely.
“More heavy rain is forecast over the next few days and river and surface water flooding will continue to be a risk due to saturated ground conditions and high river levels, especially in the northeast, east and southeast of the country,” the NECG said in a statement.
“The public are urged to be vigilant as situations can change very quickly and even small amounts of rain could result in significant impacts in areas where river levels are high and/or where the ground is already saturated,” it added.
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The flooding that has devastated parts of Co Wexford has spread to other counties in the southeast and the situation could get even worse.
Co Kilkenny is also badly affected with the towns of Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown and Inistioge all experiencing rising flood waters.
The river Slaney in Enniscorthy burst its banks on Friday evening for the second time in a week. Wexford County Council issued an urgent warning for motorists to avoid the town centre.
[ Flood damage: Will my insurance firm cover the costs? ]
The public are urged to stay away from all flooded areas, with the council warning that floodwaters are contaminated and dangerous.
The river Burren in Carlow town is also at a very high level.
Wicklow County Council warned that the risk of flooding was high across the country especially in Aughrim, Baltinglass, Arklow, Wicklow town, Rathnew, Newtownmountkennedy, Greystones, Delgany and Kilcoole.
Met Éireann published rainfall statistics for the last week which said that in the six days between January 22nd and 28th, parts of the south-east, usually the driest part of the country, got almost 80mm of rain.
Dublin has received almost five times the average amount of rainfall in that six day period.
Unfortunately, the places affected worst by Storm Chandra will also get the most rainfall over the coming days.
Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Dublin will get between 30mm and 40mm of rain between now and Monday.
There will be some respite over the bank holiday weekend until Monday, but further heavy rain is expected on Monday evening into Tuesday morning across the country.
A sinkhole was discovered on Mount Bolton Road in Portlaw, Co Waterford while the county was under a status yellow rain warning.
Local independent councillor Declan Clune said Waterford County Council received a report about the Mount Bolton Road.
After carrying out an inspection, a sinkhole was confirmed, the road closed off, and will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Cllr Clune: “The fields cannot absorb anymore water, they’re saturated with excess rainfall.“
Meanwhile, businesses affected by Storm Chandra, but which do not have flood insurance, may be able to apply for funding of up to €100,000.
Previously businesses could only claim up to €20,000, but the scale of the damage of the storm has prompted a rethink by the Department of Enterprise.
The definition of small businesses has been updated to include enterprise with a maximum of 50 employees. It had been 20 employees.
Money will be made available through the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme (EHFS) to cover damage incurred from January 26th to early February.
The proposal from the Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke will be brought to Cabinet next week.
“I am acting decisively to ensure that those unable to obtain flood insurance can access fast, practical assistance,” he said.
“The extension of the EHFS and the activation of the enhanced scheme will help premises return to their pre‑flood condition as quickly as possible, protecting local jobs and supporting community resilience.”
There is much anger in the town most badly affected by floods, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford, where proposals for a flood relief scheme were unveiled in 2010, but then repeatedly knocked back.
