Speaking in the Dáil last night, Micheál Martin pledged immediate payments and assistance, with special support schemes being rolled out for both households and local businesses left reeling from the floods.
He said the worst damage had been recorded in Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and Cork, with towns including Bunclody and Enniscorthy suffering severe flooding, as water poured into homes, and shops and streets were turned into fast-flowing rivers.
Local authority crews are already on the ground this morning, dealing with the devastation, while the Department of Social Protection is issuing Emergency Response Payments to families facing unexpected costs in the storm’s aftermath.
Meanwhile, the business and community support scheme is being activated to help struggling firms get back on their feet as cleanup efforts continue.
Emergency Response Payment (formerly the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme) is now available to support householders affected by Storm Chandra in Dublin City and County.
Read the full press release here https://t.co/wFmywNJzX3
For more information visit https://t.co/5ZPcNSfTK8 pic.twitter.com/Uqg0Olmjhx
— Department of Social Protection (@welfare_ie) January 28, 2026
Thousands remain without power this morning as the aftermath of Storm Chandra is felt across the country, with fallen power lines leaving around 2,500 homes, farms, and businesses still without electricity.
Engineers are racing to restore supply, but disruption is still widespread as crews battle dangerous conditions and storm damage in hard-hit areas.
The River Dodder in Dublin flooded during Storm Chandra.
Communities around the country are trying to pick up the pieces of homes and businesses impacted by Storm Chandra over the past two days, with the East and Southeast the worst-affected areas.
Counties Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford saw the most damage to infrastructure, with torrential rain and flash floods taking communities by complete surprise in the early hours of Tuesday morning, causing homes to flood right across the South-East in areas that were prepared for the storm, but not for the ferocity of what came.
Fair play to the emergency services and council workers on the ground in big numbers helping people in Enniscorthy Co Wexford as the Slaney River floods during #StormChandra https://t.co/MRP5f2dIcc pic.twitter.com/Nu0Hu0XfJQ
— Niall Carson (@niallcarsonpa) January 27, 2026
Some of the areas which were worst hit by the floods saw almost half of their average rainfall for January fall in just 24 hours.
Dublin’s Phoenix Park was deluged by a staggering 40mm of rain in just 24 hours, nearly two-thirds of January’s usual rainfall dumped in a single day as Storm Chandra soaked the country.
Across Ireland, rivers surged to near-record levels not seen in the past two decades, sparking fresh flood fears in already saturated communities.
In Wexford, the River Slaney at Enniscorthy rose to within inches of the devastating levels reached during the infamous Storm Frank floods of ten years ago, which tore through the town and left widespread destruction in their wake.
Despite years of warnings and calls for urgent flood defences, locals say promised protections are still nowhere to be seen, leaving towns once again on edge as more rain is forecast for already saturated ground and high river levels.
Multiple road and school closures across Co Wexford after River Slaney burst its banks during Storm Chandra | Follow live https://t.co/z0LD7T6rc1 pic.twitter.com/GDjqxv0JwJ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 27, 2026
Last night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin promised immediate financial support for people and communities hit by flooding and damage to homes and businesses caused by Storm Chandra.
He confirmed that the Government would be making these payments available immediately to assist households with urgent needs after severe damage caused by floodwaters.
Mr Martin outlined that the Department of Social Protection’s Emergency Response Payment is now open to people whose homes were damaged. This payment, available from today, will provide assistance for immediate needs in the aftermath of the storm.
He also promised that the business and community support scheme will also be up and running by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, to help business owners and community groups on the ground affected by the devastating floods.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast for the rest of the week remains unsettled, with further rain expected, some of it heavy, and more flooding in parts of the country.
Met Éireann says today (Wednesday) will be cloudy and damp with some patchy drizzle. Scattered showers will move over Munster and south Leinster later. Elsewhere, a mix of cloudy periods and sunny spells will develop with just a few passing isolated showers. Southerly breezes and highs of 8 to 11 degrees.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Comments