Storm force 10 south-westerly winds have hit the west coast this morning, as efforts continue to try and cope with flooding across Connacht.
Over 1,200 SIPTU members working for local authorities in Clare and Galway have decided to defer strike action on Tuesday, because of "the urgent need to tackle the extensive damage caused by storms and floods to their communities".
"The priority at this time must be to look after the public", SIPTU organiser Michael Kilcoyne said today 0in Mayo. He said that his members had been working for three days and three nights, rescuing people and restoring essential services.
"In many cases they have worked continuously without any rest, rescuing people and restoring essential services," he said.
"They see their first duty being to the public they serve, despite the local authorities unilaterally depriving them of allowances they were entitled to last summer," he said.
"Public health and safety must be the first consideration in these unprecedented weather conditions. The industrial action is therefore being deferred until the crisis is dealt with and essential services restored."
Overnight rain and gales has resulted in little sign of floods abating in Ballinasloe, Craughwell, Gort, Claregalway and a number of villages and farming communities across east Galway. Met Eireann has also warned of a risk of coastal flooding in the west today, due to storm force winds and high tides.
Army staff have been transporting residents in Ballinasloe who need to reach the town centre, and Galway West TD Frank Fahey has called for Defence Force assistance in Claregalway, which has been flooded since Thursday night when the Clare river burst its banks.
Minister of State for the OPW Martin Mansergh visited Gort last night and parts of south Galway with Mr Fahey. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has said farmers are suffering serious hardship as over 20,000 acres of land is flooded, stock cannot be reached in certain areas and families have had to leave homes.
IFA president Padraig Walshe, who visited Galway yesterday (sat), criticised the inaction over years in prioritising drainage, which could have alleviated some of the worst effects of flooding in certain areas, and said that one of the problems was that there were "too many agencies" involved.
The N17 Galway-Sligo road remains impassable at Claregalway, but is now passable at Two Mile Ditch in Castlegar on the Galway city perimeter. The N84 Galway-Headford road, which has been taking much of the traffic diverted from the north, is flooded in several parts, with worst affected locations between Clonboo and Corrandulla cross, and Galway County Council has said that the route is at "serious risk".
It has urged people not to travel at all today unless absolutely necessary.
Rail services between Dublin and Galway are running to Athlone only, with bus services on to Galway. Bus Eireann and private bus services have been using the sections of the M6 motorway which were opened on a temporary basis late on Friday.
The N18 Galway-Limerick route is flooded north of Gort at Kiltartan, and the R339 Galway-Monivea road is flooded from Carnmore cross to Cashla. Flooding is also reported on the ferry bridge on the N65 in Portumna.