Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has urged coastal local authorities around the country to remain in a state of "high alert" and to have sandbags ready for local homes and businesses, as the country prepares for the possibility of significant flooding from this weekend and over the coming months.
This follows a warning that tides here are expected to reach their highest level in almost 20 years during that time.
The unusually high tides will peak in Cobh and Galway around this Saturday, and in Dublin the following day. Other peak tides will occur in Galway around October 8th and November 6th, Dublin around October 9th and November 6th, and in Cobh around October 8th and November 5th to 7th, according to the Marine Institute.
They are due to a phenomenon known as the "nodal cycle," which occurs once every 18.6 years, and allows for an extremely large tide to occur during this cycle.
However, Met Éireann yesterday said that the weather conditions which might prompt these high tides to lead to flooding, such as low pressure and strong winds, are not currently forecast for this weekend.
Pat Clarke, a meteorologist with Met Éireann, said pressure is expected to be relatively high at the weekend, with some easterly winds but no indications of very heavy rain. Met Éireann will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days, he added.
Mr Roche said there was "no particular cause for worry" unless storms and sea surges occur at the same time. But he has asked county managers in coastal areas to confirm that they have taken the necessary steps to ensure that they are fully prepared to deal with a coastal flooding "crisis".
The Defence Forces, Irish Coast Guard and Civil Defence have also been asked to be prepared to assist in the event of any flooding. If weather conditions do deteriorate, householders in high-risk areas should consider moving valuables, electrical equipment and furniture upstairs.
Meanwhile, business owners and residents in parts of Galway city are putting flood gates and sandbags in place ahead of the potentially serious flood warning. People in "at-risk" areas have been issued with repeated warnings to secure their premises in preparation for particularly high tides commencing in the early hours of Thursday morning.