A statement from the Irish Red Cross this afternoon thanked the Irish public for their “amazing heartfelt support”.

“Our Irish Red Cross Donegal area volunteers are in touch with people in the Creeslough locality and they are identifying a process for the funding distribution which is appropriate and informed by the local community,” said spokesman Charlie Lamson.

He added that donations will be used for “practical things,” such as hospital aid, damaged homes, lost livelihoods, medical costs and individual supports.

“We’ll be using the funds at the discretion of the community and we’ve started to liaise with key members of the community and they will decide how best the funds will be used,” Mr Lamson said.

“We are also beginning to look at the medium- and long-term needs, including trauma support and psychological aid.”

Gardaí said yesterday that the investigation into the circumstances of the explosion at the Applegreen garage on the outskirts of Creeslough was ongoing.

Authorities have already said it was believed to have been accidental.

A gas leak is one line of inquiry.

The funerals have today taken place of Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, who died in the Creeslough explosion eight days ago.

President Michael D Higgins joined relatives and other mourners for the Requiem Mass at St Michael’s church in the village, the final two funerals of the ten victims of the blast.