Recap from Southern Editor Paschal Sheehy

In counties Cork and Waterford, local authorities, businesses and homeowners have been assessing the scale of damage caused by severe flooding as Storm Babet passed over the region yesterday.

The inundations and their aftermath have led to the closure of shops, schools and health facilities as repairs are being undertaken and roads cleared of surface water.

People in the flooded areas have been recounting how the rising waters forced them to use canoes, tractor trailers and other methods of transport to reach dry ground.

The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is in Co Cork this lunchtime to see at first hand the impact of damage and hear people's concerns.

The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, said there was a €10 million humanitarian fund in place to help committees hit by flooding.

In the Dáil this afternoon, Mr Martin paid tribute to Sarsfields GAA club which opened up its pitch take floodwaters relieving damage to nearby houses and businesses.

He pledged that the Government would support the club.