Gardaí say there have been no powerline thefts since they arrested a number of gang members involved in this highly dangerous live cable robbery earlier this month.

Improved river defences, facilities for storing floodwater, and changes to the way that Cork’s dams operate are some of the proposals to be examined as part of the city’s €100m flood relief programme.

Swollen rivers and today’s rolling storm front have left many inland towns on high flood alert.