Insurance companies are bracing themselves for huge claims in the aftermath of recent flooding throughout the country, according to the Irish Insurance Federation.
Mr Michael Horan of the IIF said firms were already dealing with a large number of claims from affected householders. "Flood claims are very messy to say the least of it. Once the water comes into your house it does a lot of very unpleasant damage."
The federation's telephone advice line is 01-6761914 and its website, www.iif.ie, contains information on making a claim.
Mr Horan said it was too early to estimate how much last week's floods would cost. Insurers faced 6,000 claims, amounting to more than €50 million (£40 million), after the last serious flooding incident in November 2000. Following storms at Christmas 1997, more than €81 million (£64 million) was paid out on 47,000 claims. The previous year, more than €55 million (£44 million) was paid out in 28,000 claims.
Meanwhile, the clean-up operation in waterlogged areas around the country continues today.
In Dublin, the worst-affected areas were Ringsend and the East Wall. Dublin City Council has established emergency response units in both areas, and set up a central advice office which can be contacted on 01-6755900. The Army has been asked to mobilise a field kitchen in the Ringsend area with Garda support. The council's environmental health service will be operating in the area today.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has promised financial assistance for uninsured householders.
Yesterday it emerged that the amount of public money available for helping victims of flooding and bad weather was cut by 80 per cent in the last Budget. However, the Office of Public Works said all flooding incidents would be dealt with by the Government on a case-by-case basis.
Floods in the mid-west began to subside yesterday following the weekend's heavy rainfall, although more rain was forecast for last night. An unusually high Spring tide caused the main damage in the region. A shop, a pub and a number of homes in the west Limerick village of Foynes were flooded after a spring tide rose 1.8 metres higher than predicted due to strong winds.
Also in the west of the country, the River Maigue burst its banks near Adare, impeding traffic on the Limerick-Tralee road.
Traffic was delayed in Limerick city when flooding occurred on Clancy Strand, and after strong winds washed water from the Abbey River onto the Corbally Road. In Co Clare, hundreds of acres of land were immersed in water when the Fergus Estuary flooded. On Sunday, three inches of snow impeded traffic movement in the county.
Meanwhile, more rain is on the way and rivers are continuing to rise across the country, said Mr John Eagleton of Met Éireann.
However, he offered an assurance that there would be little chance of a repeat of last Friday's floods - in Dublin at least.
