Driving conditions treacherous as heavy rain returns

Heavy rain is making road conditions treacherous in many parts of the country for a second night.

Heavy rain is making road conditions treacherous in many parts of the country for a second night.

Met Eireann warned that rain will continue to batter the country until tomorrow afternoon when there will be a brief let up before it returns for the weekend.

In Co Meath heavy flooding on the N3 between Ross Cross and Garlow Cross has made the road barely passable. The Walterstown to Skreen Rd is completely flooded and impassable.

In Co Leitrim the Dowra to Drumkeeran Road is impassable as part of the road and a small bridge has been swept away due to heavy flooding. The Kiltyclogher to Glenfarne road is also impassable.

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Heavy surface water is being reported on a number of roads in Co Kerry, Co Donegal and north Dublin

Train services between Drogheda and Dundalk have been suspended until further notice due to flooding. Passengers are being transferred by bus. sBus transfers

A major clean-up operation got underway earlier in Dublin after the second round of heavy rain in less than a week.

The Phoenix Park's Castleknock gate has been closed and the road rendered impassable by the heavy floods while a portion of the Kylemore Road at the Labrer Junction also remains flooded.

In Kerry the Annascaul to Lispole road is flooded at Menard Castle and according to AA Roadwatch, the road is passable but with extreme caution.

There are also reports of flooding and debris on the mountain road from Abbeyfeale to Tralee via Knocknagoshel and motorists are being asked to avoid the road if possible. The Killarney to Gneevguilla road is also closed until further notice due to the river bursting its banks.

Homes in the north of the city were among the main casualties of the heavy rain with Finglas, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Marino, Whitehall and Clontarf all affected by the downpour.

A number of elderly women were rescued from a complex in Finglas and residents of Ballyfermot also contacted emergency services for assistance.

Dublin Fire Brigade said it responded to as many as 200 calls by 9.30pm.

Small parts of the city centre in Dublin were also flooded last night.

Labour Party Spokesperson on the Environment Joanna Tuffy said the lack of preparation and planning on the part of the government had contributed significantly to the extent of the flooding experienced in Dublin and other parts of the country over recent weeks.

She said the government was simply not taking the threat posed by climate change seriously enough.

”It is particularly unacceptable that recently built modern roads like the M50 and the N3 dual carriageway at Blanchardstown should be subject to such severe flooding. It is also alarming to see housing developments, for which planning permission was only granted in recent years, now being subject to regular flooding,” she said.

She called for investment in flood relief schemes and the implementation of a flood warning system.

Meanwhile, a clean-up operation has also begun in parts of Northern Ireland after a number of homes were flooded last night.

South Down was worst hit by the torrential rain.

Water had to be pumped from houses in Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, with the Roads Service bringing in truck loads of sandbags in an effort to keep the water out of properties.

It is understood storm drains were overwhelmed by the flash flooding.

The bad weather is set to continue with more heavy rain forecast today.

Additional reporting: PA