Flooding disruption worsens as commuters return to the roads

Communities caught in floods will be hit with fresh headaches this week as they attempt to return to work, school and colleges after the Christmas break.

While the Government task force on flooding gave a cautious assessment that river levels, rainfall and the associated threats had “stablilised”, they warned fresh difficulties were ahead as people get back to normal routines.

Gardai said almost every county had impassable regional and local roads but there were also diversions on main routes as well as some disruption to railway lines. “We’re asking people to be very careful,” said Superintendent John Ferris after the daily meeting of the National Coordination Group..