It is hoped humanitarian assistance will be available quickly for dozens of businesses impacted by a fire in Waterford city on Saturday, Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler has said.
The fire broke out at a business centre in the Tycor area of Waterford city on Saturday evening.
Ms Butler, who is also a Waterford TD, said she spoke with Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday who confirmed a humanitarian scheme will be set up similar to those implemented when areas are impacted by flooding.
A number of local ministers, including Minister for Housing James Browne and Ms Butler, visited the site early this morning. They said it will take a few days to assess the extent of damage to properties within the complex.
Speaking in Co Kildare, the Taoiseach said State agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, are being asked to assess the situation.
"We are very interested in getting people to work who have no place to go to work now," Mr Martin said, adding that there is a disability facility that can no longer be used.
"It was a very serious fire, both in terms of the impact and also in terms of public health," he said.
Businesses impacted have said they are "devastated" following the fire, with hopes for financial supports.
It is understood that between 30 to 40 of the 50 premises in the business centre have been severely damaged and will not be able to reopen.
It is believed that this will have an impact on up to 200 employees who were due to return to work today following the weekend.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with David McCullagh, Ms Butler said "the sense of devastation is palpable in the community".
"We're dependent on drone footage, but the smoke damage will be massive, even if there wasn't damage from the fire impact."
Ms Butler said the Government has an agreement in principle with details to be confirmed later on in relation to supports for those impacted. The supports will include both a business and social community element.
Fire crews from across Waterford city and county as well as neighbouring Kilkenny battled through the night to bring the fire under control.
Niall Curtain, Chief Fire Officer with Waterford Fire Service, said that they hadn't had a fire of this magnitude in Waterford City for 25 years or longer but that they were able to deploy plenty of additional resources and equipment to deal with it.
They had fire crews at the incident between Saturday and Sunday for around 22 hours.
"We were served by crews from eight different stations, which allowed us to relieve personnel and deploy specialist vehicles such as high-reach appliances, water tankers and an incident command unit, while also maintaining fire cover throughout Waterford City and Waterford County," he said, speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime.
He said it will be a while before business owners will be able to check their premises. All electricity and gas supplies have been cut off to the building and there is a clean-up going on in the surrounding area.
It is not just businesses that have been impacted.
The building is also home to a service that is run by the Brothers of Charity for 20 to 30 adults with intellectual disabilities.
The service has been cancelled, and Waterford City and County Council is searching for a suitable premises as a replacement.
Ms Butler said she is working with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, as well as the local council, to find a temporary home for the service.
A number of community groups, including Waterford Centre of Music, have also had their premises destroyed. Four churches of various religions were also located in the centre.
Waterford City and County Council said that "fire service operations" will continue at the site throughout the coming days.
The local authority previously said that it was proceeding on the basis that asbestos is present.
A statement from the council yesterday said: "While the presence of an asbestos bound cement roof on the building has not been confirmed, following a risk assessment, the local authority is proceeding on the basis that asbestos is present.
"Analysis with an environmental consultant and construction specialist is taking place.
"As a precautionary measure, members of the public within the immediate vicinity of the site are advised to: close windows and doors; do not touch/remove any debris; dampen down or lightly sprinkle surface dust particles with water; and do not cut/mow grass."
A spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council added that anyone experiencing health effects should seek medical attention.
Asbestos is a name given to many different naturally occurring minerals, made up of long thin fibres, which can be dangerous if they are inhaled as dust.
Up until 1999, asbestos was commonly used in building materials, mainly for insulation and fireproofing.
As the full extent of the damage caused by the fire and its subsequent repercussions are assessed, attention now turns towards what can be done to help those who have been most affected.
Local TD and Minister of State John Cummins said he has spoken with his colleague Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke in this regard.
Mr Cummins said: "Government, across a number of departments, will look at standing up a humanitarian scheme to assist businesses and groups impacted by the devastating fire.
"I spoke with Minister Burke... and he and Government are committed to supporting those impacted.
"He will visit the site in Waterford city and engage with businesses impacted shortly.
"I again want to pay tribute to the brave fire service personnel who battled to get this devastating fire under control.
"My thoughts are with the business owners, employees and residents in the surrounding area who have had their lives turned upside down," Minister Cummins added.
Watch: Extensive damage following major fire in Waterford city
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The exact cause of the fire still has to be established.
A major clean-up operation of the site will begin over the coming days.
The focus of the initial stages of this operation will be the safe removal of the building's cement roof, which may or may not contain asbestos, pending the outcome of the council's assessment.
