Health authorities are drawing up lists of vulnerable people living in flood-affected areas in Dublin in case they need to be evacuated when the highest tides in 20 years arrive next weekend.
Dublin City Council drainage teams are also working overtime to clear blocked drains in low-lying areas amid fears that the flooding experienced by parts of the city in 2002 could be repeated.
However, Tom Leahy, the deputy city engineer, said last night the risk of flooding next weekend is currently assessed at low to medium.
The tides caused by the alignment of the earth with the sun will be no more than 10cm (six inches)higher than normal, he pointed out.
They pose no particular risk unless accompanied by stormy weather. Mr Leahy said that although it is too early to forecast next weekend's weather accurately, present indications are for high or medium pressure over Ireland, with no high winds.
The Metropolitan Planning Emergency Group, made up of the four local authorities, the gardaí, the HSE and the Coast Guard, met last Friday to discuss the threat and will meet again on Wednesday.
"We have put all the relevant agencies of the State on alert, they are aware of the risk and the resources of the council are on standby," Mr Leahy said. Significant flood protection measures had also been put in place since 2002.
The tides are expected to peak in Galway on September 9th and in Dublin on September 10th.
