National Emergency Coordination Group meets as weather conditions improve

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met again today (Monday) to assess the current conditions.

Drier conditions over the weekend have supported a gradual recovery in river levels. Unsettled weather is expected early in the week, though significant rainfall accumulations are not anticipated. High river levels persist in the northeast but are forecast to slowly recede through the week.

While weather conditions are forecast to continue to improve, and should allow for further reduction in river levels, responding agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.

As key indicators are pointing to normal, the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management will continue to monitor the situation closely and stands ready to immediately reconvene the NECG if necessary.

Clean-up and repair operations are also continuing in areas that have been affected by flooding.

Road closures and diversions are still in place in some areas. Do not bypass ‘Road Closed’ signs or drive through floodwater; turn back and use another route.

Monitoring of local weather forecasts via www.met.ie and river levels via www.waterlevel.ie is still advised, particularly where existing levels are above bankfull conditions.

People are also urged to check their local authority website and social media channels for information on road closures, flooding updates, and community alerts.

Government supports are available to those directly impacted by flooding. Financial supports are available to households, businesses, and voluntary, community, and sporting organisations.

Full information is available at gov.ie/FloodResponse.

If you are affected by flooding and in need of help, you should contact your local authority. Out-of-hours emergency numbers are in operation. Contact details are available on local authority websites.

An Emergency Response Payment is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by flooding. Community Welfare Officers are active on the ground in affected areas to support the humanitarian response. Any household affected by severe weather can access this support by contacting the Community Welfare Service on 0818 60 70 80. The deadline to apply for Stage 1 of this scheme has been extended to February 18th.

Full details of the scheme and how to apply are available at www.gov.ie/FloodResponse.

An Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme is open for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations affected by flooding. In recognition of the severe impact of flooding on many small businesses and other organisations, the upper limit for payments under the scheme has been increased from €20,000 to €100,000 for the most impacted premises. Eligibility for the Scheme has also been extended to organisations of up to 50 employees.

The Scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and full details and application forms are available here.

The Irish Red Cross has set up a helpline to provide support to distressed people affected by flooding. The helpline is available 9am to 6pm daily at 01-6424648. Trained volunteers are available to talk to those who are in distress. The helpline can also signpost and direct callers to information on the financial support schemes available.

For animal welfare issues connected with the flooding, farmers are advised to keep in touch with their agricultural advisor or contact their local Regional Veterinary Office or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Animal Welfare Helpline animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie or phone: 01 607 2379.

Monitor Met Éireann forecasts - visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is also available across the Met Éireann App, social media platforms (@meteireann) and other news media sources.

• Check local authority websites and social media channels for information on road closures, flooding updates, and community alerts.
• Allow for disruption when travelling. Plan extra travel time and reduce speed.
• Expect surface water, debris and poor visibility.
• Do not bypass Road Closed signs – the road ahead is unsafe, the damage may be hidden beneath water, and you may be putting your life at risk.
• Do not drive through floodwater – turn back and use another route.
• Check with Transport Operators when planning journeys.
• Stay back from riverbanks, streams and canals – water levels may rise quickly.
• Keep children and pets away from waterways and flooded areas.

The Emergency Response Payment (formerly the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme) is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by flooding.

The scheme is open in Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Monaghan, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

The Emergency Response Payment prevents hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are unable to meet emergency costs for essential needs, household items and structural repair. The scheme does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event, nor does it cover damage or losses that are insured under home insurance policies or would reasonably be expected to have been covered by an insurance policy. It is available as a support for households which experience unanticipated and exceptional costs in the immediate aftermath of flooding or a severe weather event. The Emergency Response Payment does not cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.

In administering the Emergency Response Payment and dealing with emergency events, the Department of Social Protection generally adopts a three-stage approach as follows:

• Stage 1 of the scheme is to address hardship in the immediate aftermath of emergency events and provides emergency support payments to cover immediate and essential costs such as the purchase of food, clothing, bedding and essential personal items for immediate use and is not income tested. This support will be available until Wednesday, 18th February 2026. It does not cover the purchase of replacement food or other items – See Stage 2.
• Stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items where there is a valid reason why these were not covered by insurance and where the person can demonstrate that it is essential that the items are replaced and that they do not have the financial resources to cover these costs themselves.
• Stage 3 covers costs of essential structural repairs to a person’s primary residence where the person does not have the resources to cover the costs involved. The type of repairs includes plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting. These costs are only covered if they are essential, result directly from damage caused by the emergency event, and there are valid reasons as to why household insurance was not in place. All costs are subject to expert assessment by a loss adjuster.

While Stage 1 is not income tested, income testing does apply to Stages 2 and 3 of the scheme. However, it is important to note that the income test for the Emergency Response Payment is more generous than that applied under means-tested social welfare payments in general.

Reduced or tapered level of support may be provided in cases where a household’s income is above the limits. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance, which includes non-Social Welfare recipients.

The scheme does not cover:

• commercial, agricultural, or business losses.
• losses covered by an insurance policy or which could reasonably be expected to have been covered by an insurance policy.
• loss of items deemed to be inessential or luxury items.
• structural loss or damage to rented accommodation.
• any additional properties that are not occupied and lived in as the primary residence.
• repair or replacement of motor vehicles.

Levels of payment under the scheme depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs from their own resources. This ensures that the funding is appropriately targeted.

Any household affected by flooding can access this support by contacting the Community Welfare Service on 0818 60 70 80.

Further information on the Emergency Response Payment is available at www.gov.ie/erp.

The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations that have suffered flood-damage is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

The scheme provides support to small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations who, through no fault of their own, have been unable to obtain flood insurance. It provides a contribution towards the costs of returning a premises to its pre-flood condition. This can include replacing flooring, fixtures and fittings, and damaged stock if relevant. The scheme is specifically targeted to help small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations, and has two payment stages:

1. The first stage will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of the damages incurred, with a focus on getting funding to the small business/organisation as quickly as possible.
2. If a premises has incurred significant damages above €5,000, businesses and community, voluntary, and sports organisations may apply for additional financial support. The total level of support available across the two stages is €100,000. In this case, a Building Assessment will be organised through the Irish Red Cross.

Eligibility for the Scheme has been extended to organisations of up to 50 employees.

More information and application forms for support are available here.