The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says some 200 members of the Defence Forces are now deployed to eight counties to deal with flooding.

Mr Kenny has also defended delays in delivering relief schemes - such as Bandon in Co Cork - saying legal issues meant "you can't just move in with your bulldozers".

Mr Kenny says there is substantial funding for flood relief works, but they take time to do.

Home-owners and businesses along the Shannon are bracing themselves for more flooding today, with heavy rain and high winds forecast.

In Co Clare, the Defence Forces have been deployed to assist the council in the Springfield area of Clonlara.

For several days now people living in south east Clare have been stranded because of flooding.

The army has been deployed to Castleconnel and Montpellier in Limerick, which lay along the banks of the Shannon, to lay sandbags at homes and businesses.

With the current flood waters likely to increase as more rain is forecast, the likelihood of more evacuations is increasing.

The council there says water levels rose dramatically last night in the Lower River Shannon, south of Parteen weir.

Met Éireann has issued wind and rain warnings for today - in particularly for Connaught, Donegal, Clare and Kerry.

A yellow wind warning is in place for the entire country, with average speeds greater than 45 km/h and up to 65 km/h expected.

Gusts of up to 100 km/h are also possible during Wednesday, it says.

While a yellow alert rainfall warning is in place for Connacht, Donegal, Clare and Kerry. Between 20 to 35 mm of additional rainfall are expected there today.

Evelyn Cusack of Met Éireann told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk this current spate of bad weather is not new.

Newstalk.com's Shona Murray is in Crossmolina, Co Mayo - where the river there bust its banks for the second time in less than a month.

Athlone businessman Kieran Hynes says the floods will be unstoppable if they hit 2009 levels again.