A new body is to be set up to co-ordinate the response to future flooding along the River Shannon.
The setup of a Flood Management Co-Ordination and Implementation Group is among the matters being discussed at a crisis summit at Government Buildings this lunchtime.
A crisis meeting is taking place in Government Buildings today of all the State agencies with responsibility for the River Shannon.
Ministers have discussed measures required to tackle the current floods and ways to prevent recurrences in future, including the establishment of a new group which would co-ordinate the local flood management plans for 66 flood-prone areas along the Shannon.
Junior minister Simon Harris says funding for a long-term weather forecasting system is also being discussed.
The meeting comes as residents in Springfield, Clonlara and other communities near to the River continue to fight floods.
Today, the ESB has announced that the flow of water through Parteen Weir will remain at 470 cubic metres per second, despite marginal increases in the water levels in Lough Derg.
But warning remain that water levels may reach 2009 levels in the coming days.
Meanwhile,
As the fight against floods continues, shock has been expressed in Springfield after thieves attempted to capitalize on the situation.
An army dinghy, which was being used in the flood relief effort, was taken from a house on Sunday evening by a group of men who were later intercepted by locals.
It's believed the men were looking to break into vacated homes, but they fled fter they were disturbed.
Gardaí in Ardnacrusha are investigating.
Local Councillor Michael Begley has described the incident as extraordinary.
