Early warning system 'would have helped people better prepare for floods'

Flood barriers on Kent Bridge, Fermoy, Co Cork, protecting shops from the very high River Blackwater. Picture: Dan Linehan

Householders and businesses will continue to suffer the worst effects of flooding until the State puts in place an early flood warning system, the country's leading independent weather forecaster has said.

Alan O'Reilly, who runs Carlow Weather, said if such a system was in place — at a cost of around €9m — people in areas worst hit by the weekend's Storm Bert could have been better prepared.