Flood defence agency urged by insurers

INSURANCE companies last night demanded the setting up of a national flood defence agency as torrential storm waters yesterday added hundreds of thousands of euro to this year’s flood damage bill.

Pubs, shops, schools and family homes were no-go areas in flood-devastated parts of Cork, Kilkenny and Dublin.

The Government announced plans to provide a humanitarian aid scheme for victims of severe flooding in Cork which experienced back-to-back floods within a week.