Plans to overhaul Ireland's national flood forecasting and warning systems were presented to Cabinet on Wednesday, with measures aimed at pooling data and expertise across state agencies to improve real-time communication of flood risks.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne brought forward a memorandum detailing proposals for closer collaboration between Met Éireann, the Office of Public Works (OPW), and local authorities. Under the proposal, Met Éireann intends to refine how flood forecast information is issued, ensuring earlier and clearer guidance reaches both the public and emergency responders.

The initiative focuses on amplifying data regarding river and coastal flood risks so that households and businesses can take timely protective measures before severe weather events occur. While the OPW produces flood maps to inform emergency planning and local authorities coordinate physical response efforts, the updated framework seeks to create a seamless link between meteorological data and public alerting systems.

The move follows heightened political and public scrutiny of weather alerting procedures following severe flooding caused by Storm Chandra in January. The storm caused widespread property damage across eastern and southeastern counties, including Dublin, Wexford, and Kilkenny, sparking debate over whether initial advisories adequately reflected the severity of local flood hazards.

Efforts to establish a comprehensive National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service have been under development across government departments, structured around monitoring, forecasting, and warning capabilities. While Met Éireann established a dedicated Flood Forecasting Centre in 2024 to support emergency management stakeholders, the latest measures aim to expand public access to actionable flood alerts.