26 November 2009.  4.30 pm.

Currently the Defence Forces have 140 personnel and 30 vehicles deployed in Cork, Ennis, Limerick, Galway and Athlone providing emergency assistance to civil authorities for flood relief.  Army personnel continue to provide manpower and mobility in the affected areas with trucks and sandbags to business people and home owners.

  24 personnel from the Naval Service vessel LE Orla are also working in Cork city with water pumping teams for the HSE, keeping sanitary water in hospitals and CARE homes throughout the city.

Delivery of drinking and sanitary water to 27 areas of north Cork city along four routes continues.  Bulk water is being delivered to Collins Barracks, Cork and army trucks are working from 8.00 am to 7.oo pm (approx) delivering on these routes.  In co-operation with Cork City Council we are prioritising these deliveries (drinking water, in particular) to the elderly, infirm and housebound.

Our troops continue to provide emergency assistance in Aid to the Civil Authority.  This provision of assistance is in addition to the resources deployed by local authority’s, HSE, Gardai, Civil Defence and Red Cross.

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