The Taoiseach has reassured those affected by flooding that Government supports will be adequate enough to enable them to move back into their businesses or homes as soon as possible.
Speaking at the opening of the Athy Distributor Road, Leo Varadkar also said business supports and humanitarian schemes have been activated in counties Louth and Wexford following heavy flooding today.
Mr Varadkar said: "There isn't anything new about floods. Floods have been happening for millennia.
"But it is very evident that flooding has become more frequent and become more severe and we have seen some very obvious examples of that in Cork in the last couple of weeks, and now in Wexford and also Newry today.
"When it comes business schemes and humanitarian schemes to help householders, they have been activated for Louth and Wexford just in the last short period. And they are really there to be used.
"We do expect business owners and homeowners to have insurance. But where people can’t get insurance through no fault of their own, that is where the Government steps in.
"We want to make sure that whatever we put in place is adequate so people can move back into their homes and businesses can operate particularly at this time of year coming into Christmas it can be very tough on families and very though on businesses to face flood damage."
Read more:
Parts of Newry like 'a lake' following flooding
Publican praises community spirit as Louth bar floods
In pictures: Newry under water after flooding
Mr Varadkar said about 50 flood relief schemes are in place and 90 are in the pipeline, "so we need to get them done as soon as possible".
He said they are "complex schemes, very tricky to get planning often with lots of objections, but we are very committed to pushing them forward".
He added: "It is clear to me that severe weather events, including floods are going to become more frequent and are going to become more severe and a lot of that is linked to climate change.
"We need to ensure that the government safety net is there for people who can't get insurance, but also crucially to speed up the number of flood protection schemes that are getting done.
"Then we have to be careful about where we build. Areas that didn’t flood before are flooding now and areas where floods might have been a few centimetres high are now much more serious and doing much more damage."
Humanitarian scheme details
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphries confirmed that the income limits on the humanitarian schemes available to those in Louth and Wexford will range up to €90,000 for couples, as high as €50,000 for a single person and with up to €15,000 per dependent child.
She said: "I'm very conscious of the serious disruption that severe weather and flooding is causing for individuals and families in counties Louth and Wexford.
"The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is open, and support is available."
Ms Humphreys said those who may need to access the supports can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.
Labour TD for Louth Ged Nash said that there must be fast access to the emergency flooding schemes for businesses and households.
He said that he has been in contact with Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney to ensure people can access the two financial aid funds established last week easily.
He said: "The reality is that such funds can no longer be piecemeal in nature, designed as they are to respond to what were once in a generation events.
"The reality of climate change demands that schemes of this kind need to be placed on a more permanent and secure footing."
Mr Nash commended the work of council staff, who he said had performed "heroically".
Coastal change strategy
Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan expressed concern for those caught up by the latest flooding.
"My heart goes out to those up in Cooley/Carlingford, down in Wexford I know there has been particular flooding, as well as Newry, as well as what happened to Midleton (Co Cork) obviously a few weeks ago," he said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the minister said: "Those parts of the country in the south-east tend to be more at risk because of softer ground conditions at the coast. Because there's also a kind of a longer term trend in terms of that coastline lowering slightly and also obviously rising sea levels.
"So it is connected to climate change. We have to manage and protect our coasts and our people. We can do that, but we have to recognise the reality - the seas are rising, there are particular difficulties also with heavier rains coming, as well as the other elements of coastal erosion."
Speaking about the National Coastal Change Management Strategy, which warns that thousands of homeowners and businesses could have to abandon properties due to rising sea levels and coast line lowering in the future, Minister Ryan said Government wants to keep as many people in homes as possible, but it will not be possible in every case.
He said: "We will have to have a whole variety of different responses, we need to look at flood management.
"It’s not all about flood protection measures, it's the culverting of rivers, the need to build walls in the centre of towns and the whole of the river basin from the mountain to the sea.
"It requires a wider adaptation strategy, as on the coast there are specific areas where there are difficulties."
Additional reporting: Laura Hogan
