The Minister of State for the OPW and Flood Relief has called for the Government to establish a dedicated agency for emergency situations.
Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, who has been to visit those affected by severe floods in Co Donegal, said such an agency would mean people were on the ground to help the moment disaster hit.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said that the Office of Emergency Planning needs to be overhauled and updated because things have changed since its establishment ten years ago.
He added that getting machinery such as industrial vacuum cleaners and humidifiers into flooded properties is significant in terms of clean-up but they are currently taking too long to be delivered.
Mr Moran said he intended to bring the issue up with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Every department, he said, would need to "cough up".
