The Green Party has called on the Government to "step up and assist with the clean up" following Storm Ophelia.

Spokesperson for Community, Rural Affairs and Local Government, Cllr Malcolm Noonan, also urged the Minister of State for Local Government to secure a significant fund from Central Government to help Local Authorities.

He said: "Ophelia has wreaked havoc across the Island of Ireland and three lives have been lost. The clean-up cost will be significant and Local Authorities will once again bear the brunt of repair to roads, removal of trees and debris, repairing walls and other infrastructure. Many Local Authorities are already in financial difficulty and cannot wait for an assessment of damages before being reimbursed by Central Government. We are calling on the Minister for Local Government, John Paul Phelan TD to make available an immediate emergency fund to assist with the cleanup cost and to help communities rebuild.

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Cllr Noonan said that an emergency fund similar to that operated by the Irish Red Cross following severe floods in recent years, could be made available to help with emergency provision of food and shelter.

(CD/LM)