Businesses in Bantry, Co Cork which were impacted by flooding at the weekend can now apply for aid under an Emergency Humanitarian Support Scheme.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has opened the scheme to small businesses, with up to 20 employees, as well as sports clubs and community and voluntary organisations who were unable to secure flood insurance due to repeated flooding in the town.
The scheme is being administered by the Irish Red Cross.
It will operate in two stages, the first of which provides up to €5,000, depending on the scale of damage incurred.
A spokesperson for the department said that "it is anticipated that this will meet the needs of the majority of those affected".
The second stage is for any business that incurred more significant damage and it requires an assessment by the Irish Red Cross.
The total level of support available for both stages combined is capped at €20,000.
Cork County Council said that 20 properties were impacted by flooding in Bantry on Saturday.
The Main Street and New Street in the town were badly effected with a number of premises flooded there.
Up to 65mm of rain fell locally in a 12-hour period.
Bantry is a high risk area having flooding four times in 18 months between 2018 and 2020.
A flood relief scheme is currently in planning.
On Sunday, visiting Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell said that he understood people's "anger and frustration".
The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works committed to prioritising an upgrade of the town's culvert scheme, rolling out individual property protections, as well making financial assistance available.
