Climate change is bringing rain ‘the likes of which we’ve never seen before’ to Ireland and local authorities must be prepared for more flooding events.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan is warning local authorities and other State bodies to be extra vigilant this autumn and winter, with water levels unusually high after a wet summer.

He was speaking on his way into Cabinet where ministers are expected to sign off on the new Storm Babet flood relief scheme, with businesses offered up to €100,000 to help with repairs.

The scheme will be administered through the Red Cross, with around 150 businesses expected to apply.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan speaking on his way into Cabinet, 24-10-2023. Image: Aoife Kearns/Newstalk

Minister Ryan said he expects Cabinet to approve the plan.

“I think businesses need this help and householders down in Midleton – they were really hit badly and we will have to provide supports,” he said.

“What happened in Midleton was unprecedented. The size of the flooding, the nature of the flooding and that is part of the response.

“We also need to really deliver the flood relief scheme quickly and we also need to deliver a wider review of our management – looking upstream, looking at how we manage our rivers.

“We are going to have to do a series of different things to try and protect our people.”

Damage to the HS2 Salon in Midleton, Co Cork on October 19th, 2023. The window was blown in by chest-high flood waters. Image: Jamie O'Hara/Newstalk

He said increased flooding will be the “most immediate impact” of climate change felt in Ireland.

“You can see it is raining again today,” he said. “It is going to be wet this week.

“We are seeing climate change hit home. It is now real intense rain, the likes of which we have never had before, so have to prepare for it.”

People walk past damaged shops on Main Street in Midleton, Cork, 19-10-2023.

He said climate change will bring more extreme weather events – with increased flooding mixed with periods of drought like the country saw in 2018.

“We do need local authorities to be vigilant, particularly this winter,” he said.

“We are going into a winter where, in July this year, the rainfall was 200% above normal.

“Water tables usually fall in the summer period and then rise in the winter. They haven’t fallen this summer because there was such intense rain in the summer.

“So yes, I think the local authorities need to be particularly vigilant around drainage, around measuring the water table and really trying to assess the flood risk before it happens.

“I think, absolutely, they and other bodies of the State need to do that.”

Stock is seen outside the flooded Lollipop Kids shop in Midleton, Co Cork following flooding from Storm Babet on October 19th, 2023. Image: Facebook/Lollipop Kids

The Storm Babet flood relief scheme is expected to be made up of the existing humanitarian relief scheme for businesses, which will offer quick payments of €5,000 and assessed and audited payments of up to €20,000.

There will also be a second exceptional humanitarian relief scheme for businesses with quick payments of €10,000 and audited and assessed payments of up to €100,000.