The humanitarian fund for flood victims has been increased to €15 million.

The government has decided to increase the funding after more bad weather which is set to continue this evening. The Taoiseach says local authorities have already started making payments to households in urgent need of aid.

He has told the Dail that separate funding will be assigned to deal with structural efforts to prevent more flooding in future.

Met Eireann is warning that another Atlantic storm depression will hit parts of the country later today with further flooding expected.

An Orange status weather alert has been issued for counties along the south and east coasts, with a Yellow warning in most other counties.

The latest storm force conditions come as clean-up operations continue after the severe weather on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile Cork City Council has begun distributing sandbags to home owners and business people in the city centre in anticipation of serious flooding in the city tonight.

Motorists are urged to avoid Cork city centre between 8pm and 10pm tonight as cars and other vehicles can cause a backwash of water which can exacerbate flooding on city streets.

And the Council has also asked pedestrians to avoid the city centre as they risk falling into open manholes, drains and shores which may be exposed by flood waters.

Cork City Manager Tim Lucey told Newstalk Lunchtime that they are expecting even worse than yesterday.

Met Eireann says further flooding is likely this evening, especially in exposed coastal counties of the south and southeast at times of the high tides. Some severe gusts are also likely on exposed coasts

Tonight will see extremely windy and blustery weather with further heavy rain or thundery showers. It is forecasting some further flooding in places, especially on the east coast during the early hours at high tides.

Deirdre Lowe from Met Eireann says Cork and Wexford look set to be the worst affected.