National Emergency Coordination Group meets following further flooding overnight

National Emergency Coordination Group meets following further flooding overnight

• From: Department of the Taoiseach

• Published on: 31 January 2026
• Last updated on: 31 January 2026

• Crews and volunteers working to respond and support on the ground
• Eligibility for Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme to be expanded

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) and its related Subgroups met today (Saturday) to continue to coordinate the response to recent flooding.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne joined the NECG meeting today and have been briefed on the situation and response. The Taoiseach and the Minister thanked all of those involved for their work in preparing for, and responding to, the severe weather and encouraged those at local level to continue to bring forward ideas and initiatives that the NECG can mobilise to support. They also stressed the importance of vigilance and agility over the coming days.

Local authority crews have been working overnight and will continue working today and over the coming days to alleviate flooding, clean up in its aftermath, and prepare for the risk of further flooding.

Response agencies, with the crucial support of Civil Defence, Irish Red Cross and other volunteers, are on the ground offering assistance to those in need. The Taoiseach, the Minister and the NECG Chair Keith Leonard paid tribute today to the volunteers who are giving their time and energy to help communities this bank holiday weekend.

People are urged to check local authority websites and social media channels for information on road closures, flooding updates, and community alerts. Flooding may impact transport services and the public is advised to check with operators before their journey.

Flood response and monitoring to continue

While rain is forecast to ease today and tomorrow, the impacts of last night's rain may continue throughout the weekend and flooding will continue to be a risk due to saturated ground conditions and high river levels.

The NECG and response agencies will continue to closely monitor the ongoing situation and be on alert for the risk of further flooding over the coming days and into next week.

The NECG and Humanitarian Sub-Group will continue to meet over the bank holiday weekend. A Sub-Group of the NECG is also coordinating with the ESB and relevant local authorities to plan and prepare for the necessary discharge from the Poulaphouca Reservoir and to put mitigation and protection measures in place, where required.

Supports available to those affected

Local response teams

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

Emergency Response Payment for households

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. The date for receipt of applications for Stage 1 of the Emergency Response Payment has been extended to Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

Any homeowner who needs to access the support can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80. The phoneline is open over the bank holiday weekend. Full details of the scheme and how to apply are available at gov.ie/erp.

Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme

An Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations affected by flooding is open.

The Scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department and full details and application forms are available at https://www.redcross.ie/stormchandra/.

In recognition of the severe impact of flooding on many small businesses and other organisations, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke will seek Government approval to expand eligibility for the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme to organisations of up to 50 employees.

The Humanitarian Sub-Group of the NECG will work to ensure that businesses and other organisations in affected areas are aware of this and that all those who are eligible get assistance.

The Minister is also seeking to increase the upper limit for payments under the scheme from €20,000 to €100,000 for the most impacted premises.

Helpline for psychological support and information

The Irish Red Cross has set up a helpline to provide support to distressed people affected by flooding. The helpline at 01-6424648 will be open 9am to 6pm across the bank holiday weekend and until required. Trained volunteers will be 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.

Public safety advice

The NECG is urging the public to be vigilant over the coming days as flooding persists in some areas and further flooding is possible.

• Monitor Met Éireann forecasts - conditions may change quickly. 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.
• Keep away from coastal edges, harbours, piers and low-lying promenades during high tide.
• The Irish Coast Guard advice remains: "Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry."
• Check in with neighbours, older people or anyone who may need assistance in case conditions worsen.

Up to date information on the response to Storm Chandra is available at gov.ie/StormResponse

ENDS

Additional information on the Emergency Response Payment

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 Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Louth and Monaghan following severe weather conditions.

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 an extreme 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, 11/02/2026. 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.

If any homeowner affected by severe weather needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80. Further information on the Emergency Response Payment is available at gov.ie/erp.

Additional information on the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for Businesses, Community, Voluntary and Sports Organisations

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. In the event that a premises has incurred significant damages above €5,000, businesses and community, voluntary, and sports organisations may apply for additional financial support. In this case, a Building Assessment will be organised through the Irish Red Cross.

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is to seek government approval to increase the total level of support available for both stages to €100,000 from €20,000.

More information and application forms for support are available at https://www.redcross.ie/stormchandra/.