The Government and aid agencies are pledging at least €1.2 million to aid relief efforts in the aftermath of the tidal waves and subsequent flooding which has left thousands dead in Asia.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has expressed concern for the victims of the disaster. The Government earlier said it would pledge €1 million in emergency aid.
In making the Government's pledge, the Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Conor Lenihan, earlier said that he was deeply shocked.
'The needs of those who have survived will be enormous and our
thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this terrible disaster,' he said.
Mr Lenihan said that the Irish assistance would be delivered through the Red Cross, which was already working on the ground.
Separately, Irish aid agencies Trócaire and the Red Cross have each pledged €100,000 in emergency aid following the disaster.
The Irish Red Cross chairman, David Andrews, said that it was essential that emergency specialists respond immediately to the devastation caused by the disaster.
Trócaire's Emergency Co-ordinator, Mary Healy said that the charity's initial donation would go to its partners in India and Sri Lanka, where she said 'hundreds of thousands of people are in dire need of temporary shelter, food and clothing'.
The European Commission has meanwhile allocated €3m in emergency aid.
The Pope has appealed for swift international help for the tragedy, which he said had saddened the feast of Christmas.
