Schemes to support businesses that had been flooded in recent weeks has been extended to retailers and community groups affected by Storm Ciarán.
Two schemes have been approved for small businesses, sports clubs and community and voluntary organisations unable to secure flood insurance and affected by extreme weather events.
Ministers made the decision at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday to extend the two schemes to businesses based in counties Louth and Wexford that were hit by flooding between October 24th and November 5th.
One scheme offers an initial €5,000 payment and total support of up to €20,000 based on the scale of the damage.
A second scheme, set up in response to unprecedented flooding in Midleton, Co Cork, offers an initial payment of €10,000 to businesses and up to €100,000 in total after auditing and assessment.
In addition to the flooding schemes, low-cost loans are available through Microfinance Ireland to small businesses that cannot get loans from other lenders, up to €25,000.
The Department of Enterprise said this can be used for restocking and other business costs.
Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney said the schemes would provide “urgent assistance to businesses that were unable, through no fault of their own, to get insurance to help with the costs of repairing the damage caused by flooding”.
“As with similar weather events in the past, the Irish Red Cross will administer and make payments under the scheme on behalf of my department.”
Flooding hit Carlingford and other parts of north Louth on Tuesday, and parts of Co Wexford were also submerged, while the main motorway and train line linking Belfast and Dublin were affected by flooding this week.
Heavy rain brought by Storm Ciarán prompted fears among residents and business owners already impacted by flooding from Storm Babet in recent weeks, including in Midleton and parts of Co Waterford.
In Northern Ireland, dramatic scenes were seen in Newry after the canal burst its banks on Monday night.
Speaking to RTÉ radio on Thursday, Minister of State Dara Calleary said the first payments for areas of Midleton affected by Storm Babet were made this week.
“We’re trying to get a system that gets money out quick,” he said.
“We’re very conscious that coming up to Christmas is a core time of year for businesses.
“We want to get them back up and running in as far as they can.
“It is an appalling situation in Carlingford and Wexford. Our thoughts are with those and we want to get supports to them as quick as possible.”
