LIVE: Enterprise Minister working on schemes to assist businesses affected by floods

Latest 10.30am

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney is working on a proposal to bring to Cabinet on Tuesday, which would see two schemes on offer to businesses affected by the floods.

The first is the scheme currently in place and offers an initial €5,000 and further support of up to €20,000 based on the scale of damage to businesses.

Mr Coveney told RTÉ Radio today that this would be for places which had been affected by flooding, but not badly.

He said those amounts were not “appropriate” for badly-hit businesses, and a second scheme would offer around double the initial payment and “multiples” of the €20,000 after that – possibly more than €70,000.

Householders can access to relief through the Humanitarian Assistance Programme, administered by the Department of Social Protection.

Mr Coveney said that Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys would bring a proposal to Cabinet on Tuesday to increase the threshold in order to qualify for the means-tested scheme.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said “it’s clear that something significantly extra is required here now to enable the households to get back into their homes – many are in hotels at the moment – and to enable businesses get off the ground and their employees back working”.

“This was a climate event of a huge scale, which has really devastated the businesses in Midleton, community facilities in Glanmire, sporting facilities and households, in particular. Many people who just bought their houses, having them destroyed,” he said in Luxembourg.

“So there’ll be two schemes, the one for households and one for businesses. We’re looking at revising the existing schemes, we don’t believe they’re fit for purpose, and I think the interventions will have to be on a scale that we haven’t seen before.”

10.20am

Carrigaline Main St has reopened, according to updated information from Cork County Council.

They have also warned of incidents of surface water flooding across the east of the county, especially in areas around Rathcormac.

We are aware of incidents of surface water flooding across the east of the county, especially areas around Rathcormac. Please take care if driving in the area. https://t.co/3G7cVsvTva

— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 23, 2023

Meanwhile, Cork City Council has advised that if homeowners affected by Storm Babet need to access support over the next few days i.e. clothing, food, etc. they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.

Residents of Cork city can email: corkswa2020@welfare.ie.

📢Government Flooding Support

The Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection has activated the HAID emergency funding scheme which is available to the areas affected by Storm Babet.@CorkSafetyAlert

— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 23, 2023

9.15am

The status yellow rainfall warning for Cork, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, and Mayo has been updated.

Met Éireann are warning of heavy rain at times with the chance of thunder.

Possible impacts include localised flooding and difficult travel conditions.

It remains in place until 6pm this evening.

📢Minister @HHumphreysFG confirms that Humanitarian Aid is available to those affected by severe flooding in Cork.

📞For enquiries about the supports available, you can contact us at 0818 607080 or visit https://t.co/5ZPcNSfTK8 pic.twitter.com/cMzitejIm5

— Department of Social Protection (@welfare_ie) October 23, 2023

8am

Cork County Council have urged people to exercise extreme caution this morning on roads. 

In a tweet, they said that roads are affected by debris, surface water, standing water and damage. 

Please also be conscious of other road users especially pedestrians and cyclists, they added.

#weather in #kinsale a lot of local #flooding pic.twitter.com/aY5f957Oq7

— Dan Linehan (@lensdan) October 23, 2023

There have been reports of spot flooding on a number of routes this morning.

#CorkTraffic Reports of spot flooding on the Fota Road, towards Cobh/Bellvelly. Take care on approach.

— Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) October 23, 2023

7.20am

Several counties face the risk of localised flooding today after last week's storm devastated areas in the south of the country.

Met Éireann has put Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford under a status-orange rain warning from 4am today until 4am on Tuesday, with a yellow alert for Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow and Roscommon at the same time.

#CorkTraffic Reports of spot flooding/heavy surface water on the N40 South Ring Road in parts, particularly westbound. Take care on approach.

— Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) October 23, 2023

A further status-yellow warning for Clare, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Galway will remain in place until 6pm today.

The forecaster said heavy and persistent rain with thundery downpours will likely bring flooding, poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions.

Cloudy with rain extending across Munster, Connacht & S Leinster this morning, turning heavy at times particularly across the SE & midlands where flooding is possible.⚠️

Rain will gradually spread further to the N & E this afternoon followed by a mix of cloud & isolated showers. pic.twitter.com/FTGI9FDSt7

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 23, 2023

Many areas, particularly in Cork and Waterford, are still counting the costs after severe rain and flooding last week.

The Government has opened a €10 million fund to help homes and businesses repair the damage.

A major clean-up operation is still under way to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in the southwest during Storm Babet.

Army and civil defence units were deployed to support evacuation measures in Midleton, Co Cork, following the storm.

On Friday, residents of the Woodland estate in Midleton were advised to be on “high alert” amid concerns of further flooding and people were told to avoid parts of the town.