Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Department of Social Protection has opened an emergency clinic in Ballinasloe to help people and families affected by flooding.
The clinics provide assistance with applications for monetary aid.
It’s open to any member of the public who has an urgent need, including people with a relatively high income
It comes as Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow rainfall warning for Galway, while the higher Orange warning has been issued for Clare, Kerry and Cork.
Falls of very heavy, prolonged rain are expected at times overnight on Friday and during Saturday with totals of 25 to 35mm, with larger totals on higher ground.
Irish Water say the boil water notice currently in place for Ballinasloe is likely to continue until Monday, but added that the town’s water supply has been testing clear all week after fears of contamination following the flooding of a water treatment plant in the area.
There are currently 500 Defence Forces members on the ground helping with flood relief efforts in areas such as Ballinasloe, Athlone and Castleconnell in Limerick, and further personnel are at the ready to help should the situation worsen over the weekend.
Galway County Council will operate an Out-of-Hours Service for emergencies associated with the flooding.
This Emergency Service will operate from 5 this evening through to 9 on Monday
In the event of a flooding related emergency please ring 091 509069, for all other emergencies please continue to ring 999.
Galway City Council says its crews are on standby, with further flooding expected across the city and county over the weekend.