THE cost of fixing roads in Co Donegal following last month's floods has so far has been estimated at more than €15 million.
Most of the damage was suffered in the Inishowen area, where the estimated repair bill has been set at €13.5m.
A Donegal county council spokeswoman said it was still collating the cost of damage to housing and community facilities.
She said 59 households have now been registered as displaced by the floods. Accommodation, sometimes temporary, has been found for 31 families.
“Approximately 115 bridges have suffered flood damage and up to a quarter of these may have to be replaced. Council staff are dealing with these bridges on a priority basis and temporary repairs are taking place to allow access," she added.
“However, it may take six to 12 months to arrange permanent replacements."
The figures were revealed as Ireland braced itself for further storm conditions last night.
The Met Office warned that the first named storm of the year - Storm Aileen - could bring winds of up to 75 miles per hour.
Chief forecaster Frank Saunders said a yellow warning for rain was also in place for parts of the north where 30 to 40mm could fall within six to nine hours.
The Met Office said there was no link between the storm and Hurricanes Irma and Harvey which devastated parts of the Caribbean and the US.
Meanwhile, the Loughs Agency has said it may have to use “scientific methods” to remove non-native rainbow trout washed into north west rivers in last month’s floods.
Huge numbers of the fish were washed into the River Faughan and Mourne from hatcheries during the floods.
In the immediate aftermath the Loughs Agency called on anglers to catch the fish and remove them from the system.
However, it said it is now considering using scientific methods to remove the non-native species.
The agency said it was still assessing the situation and praised anglers who were helping to remove the rainbow trout.
