Chaos grips the country amid calls for prevention plan

What started as a Status Yellow wind warning for seven counties ended in the entire country being under alert until 11pm last night.

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Parts of the country were thrown into chaos yesterday as river banks burst, some schools were closed, cars got stranded, traffic came to a standstill and lives were almost lost.

Enniscorthy had to be completely closed and was one of the worst affected areas in the country as the River Slaney burst its banks.

Local Fine Gael Senator Cathal Byrne said all of the residents' "worst fears" have come true.

Speaking yesterday, he estimated that around 350 properties and local businesses have been directly impacted by the flooding.

He added: "We now have a situation where the main thoroughfare through the town is now completely covered by water.

"We're fast approaching high tide and a record."

He added residents in the town are so used to being flooded that they often "get their kitchen table, they load up all their possessions onto it, and they then get a jack and they jack that kitchen table up to the ceiling level.

There is now pressure mounting on the council to provide accommodation to those impacted. Since 2000, there have been nine major floods in the area.

Senator Byrne said 26 years ago a flood relief scheme was approved, but a planning application was rejected on the basis protected freshwater pearl mussel was in the water.