Some jobs and businesses in the Republic cannot be saved if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
Talking about the latest Brexit impasse, the Fine Gael leader said: "I need to be honest with people as well. If we end up in a no-deal scenario there is going to have to be damage limitation.
"There may be jobs that can't be saved and some businesses, regrettably, that can't be saved," he said.
Mr Vardkar told the Dail "there has not been an enormous take-up by businesses" of government schemes to help them to cope with the impact of Brexit.
"They have not needed to take them up yet but they may need to and that is why they are there," he added.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin said the Government needs to produce its own "Yellowhammer" UK-style plan for a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Howlin said the time has come for the government to "give clarity on the specifics of Brexit preparations".
Mr Varadkar responded that he cannot release details on EU funding until the Budget in three weeks time.
"I would rather be in the position where the country is borrowing money to save jobs rather than borrowing money to pay the dole," he said.
"The government will put together a package that will be significant, that will be meaningful and will allow us to save those jobs and businesses that are viable in the long-term."
The UK is still heading towards an exit from the EU on October 31, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisting that while the UK was still working towards a deal, he would not be asking for another extension despite pressure from the British parliament to do so.
The European Commission again said the ball was in the UK's court to produce a formal written proposal following Mr Johnson's talks with Jean-Claude Juncker in Luxembourg on Monday.
