Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been chairing a meeting of the agencies and bodies with responsibility for the Shannon River.

It is expected that the meeting will agree that a new taskforce, charged with implementing flood plans for the catchment area, should co-ordinate all the agencies.

The Office of Public Works will be given a key role in the taskforce.

Waterways Ireland, the OPW, the ESB, Bord na Móna and Inland Fisheries Ireland are among the agencies and bodies that have responsibilities in relation to the Shannon. There are also several local authorities involved.

Representatives from all these groups, along with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Joan Burton and three Government ministers are at a meeting in Government Buildings to address the impact of the floods and how to address the issue.

Since before Christmas there have been calls for a single Shannon authority to be set up from the Opposition.

It is understood the Government believes this could take considerable time and would require legislative changes which would also have to take consideration of European laws.

Instead Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Simon Harris has proposed that the taskforce, which will be charged with implementing the flood protection plans, should be given a greater co-ordinating role with all the agencies.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Minister For Agriculture and the Marine Simon Coveney said he is not in favour of moving people out of their homes permanently in flood risk areas in the first instance.

However, he said that there may be some areas where there are no comprehensive solutions to flooding.

He also said "if people want to take the option of relocation, I think that will be part of the broader planning, adding that managing the flooding was the first priority. 

Mr Coveney said there are a number of supports for homeowners, farmers and businesses who have been severely affected by flooding and urged that people avail of those supports.

He acknowledged that there has been some criticism of the management of the crisis in some parts but said the response to the crisis this time round has been better than in 2009, adding that more resources in the form of the Army and the Civil Defence have been made available as well as the National Co-ordination Group.

Mr Coveney said two plans would be published in the summer that would specifically deal with flooding in the River Shannon catchment area.