The Government looks set to defy calls to levy households to help those who have been unable to get flood insurance.

A past president of the Irish Academy of Engineers, and former managing director of ESB international, has repeated his calls for the establishment of a national agency to tackle Ireland’s flooding problems.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced that he will provide local councils with €8m to pay for the cost of the clean-up after Storm Desmond.

Storm Desmond is being credited with the return of religious items, including a set of rosary beads, to a woman in Co Kerry in a bizarre story in which a hunter mistook her stolen bag for a sitting duck.

Calls have been made to exempt families with flooded properties from paying property tax.

Joe Fahy's life has been devastated for a second time due to flooding.

Latest: Small businesses very badly affected by Storm Desmond will be able to apply for up to €20,000 in Government funding.

The River Shannon burst its banks last night as more heavy rain hit the areas worst affected by Storm Desmond at the weekend.

THE neighbourhood of Springfield just outside Clonlara village in south east Clare is in the forefront of the battle against the raging lower Shannon.

Paddy Grehan and Paul Fleming manned the large diesel-powered water pump at a newly built dam beside The Park estate. “We’re up all night,” Paul said. “If that pump breaks down, we are gone,” he said.

A Met Eireann Yellow Warning Rainfall alert remains in place for parts of the west coast.

Irish Water says it is dealing with 84 separate incidents at treatment plants, as a result of Storm Desmond.

Mike Hogan, and his wife Liz along with their their two sons and two daughters were evacuated from their home on a boat today by the Clare Civil Defence.

Local authorities are warning that flooding along the River Shannon could reach 2009 levels in the coming days.

Many of the areas affected by the worst of Storm Desmond will be hit by more bad weather today.

Parts of east Clare on the lower Shannon were preparing for the threat of flooding yesterday afternoon.

Madeline Whelan was removing presents from under the Christmas tree in the front room of the family home in St Mary’s Park yesterday.

“It’s nice to get something back. To have your local team, your local heroes, do something for you is very nice.”

Cork City Council have said that there is still a risk of flooding on the Lee Road and Carrigrohane Road.

A showband singer who died in the weekend floods has been described as “hugely popular and highly respected”.

Iarnród Éireann has issued details of the services that have been affected by floods.

A home in Corofin, Co Galway, is under threat from rising flood waters following the devastating Storm Desmond over the weekend.

Areas along the Shannon are still at a high risk of flooding with water levels predicted to keep rising in the coming days.

Westmeath County Council says it is possible water levels in the Athlone area may approach the levels recorded in 2009 later this week.

The Cabinet is expected to sign off on a €5m package for flood relief this morning.

Cabinet ministers are to discuss emergency funding for areas affected by flooding in the wake of Storm Desmond.

On Saturday night the only thing coming through the door of Deasy’s pharmacy in Bandon was flood water. Yesterday, it was customers and Christmas decorations.