The Army has been called in to give extra support to communities across Ireland who are dealing with the floods.

The army are clearing roads to help people get to their homes and they are transporting sandbags to help with the relief efforts.

As Leinster and Munster are being hit with heavy rain for the next 24 hours, coastguard station officer Shane Dillon urged people to take great care as the weather continues to get worse.

Image: Mark Stedman/Rollingnews.ie

"We still have high seas and high winds, it is best for people to stay back, stay high and stay dry at the moment. Keep clear of pier walls, they are meant as a prevention for the sea coming into harbours and ports".

Commandant Seán Ó Fátharta says the army can get access to areas that others cannot, and has been attending the worst affected areas in Cork, Clare, Galway, Kilkenny and Westmeath.

Image: Inistioge in County Kilkenny is hit by Storm Frank as the Nore River overflows and floods the town. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.

He stated that their duties so far have been based around "providing access to roads that are flooded, providing sandbags filling them distributing them, and and also preparation and delivery of meals to workers who are out in Athlone, who have been out overnight and throughout the day manning pumps".  

The Taoiseach is looking into a long term forecasting system to better prepare themselves for future storms.