The Emergency Response Committee of government is meeting to decide what action to take following the storms. It comes after coastal communities along the western seaboard took a battering over the past 10 days.

Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes is among those at the meeting today.

He is expected to come up with a package of measures to assist communities with the clean-up, rebuilding and flood prevention.

Yesterday he said funds would be made available to help those worst hit by the storms.

Minister Hayes said today that local authorities have been asked to provide the government with an initial assessment by next week.

Flood defences and coastal areas up and down the country have been ripped apart, some by 40-foot high waves over the last few days.

The government inter-agency group along with the local authorities are meeting to co-ordinate the repair operation.

There is also the possibility that the government could get help from the EU Solidarity Fund, which was last used following the floods of November 2009.