More than 200 people were evacuated from their homes in north Dublin yesterday as the heavy downpours over the past 48 hours brought more flood chaos to the area.
In the early hours of yesterday, the River Tolka burst its banks, which affected the whole area of north Dublin city and county from Portmarnock, to Drumcondra and Blanchardstown.
Personnel from Dublin City Council, Dublin Fire Brigade, the Garda, the Defence Forces and Civil Defence worked throughout yesterday to rescue people from flooded homes, provide transport to take them to evacuation centres and bring food to those who remained in their homes.
The floods rendered many roads around the city impassable, resulting in long delays and tail-backs. Yesterday, the advice from the Garda Press Office was that people should not travel unless absolutely necessary.
In the Drumcondra area, the River Tolka flooded residential roads, including Millmount Avenue, Botanic Avenue and Richmond Road.
The people evacuated from their homes were being accommodated in the O'Brien Institute, Marino, and in the Balsaskin in Swords.
Dublin City Council staff set up advice centres at St Luke's on Drumcondra Road and at Clonliffe House in Ballybough.
The Taoiseach's constituency office on Lower Drumcondra Road was used as a central point for the rescue services. Mr Ahern visited the area early yesterday and spoke to people affected by the floods.
Houses were flooded in Lucan, Chapelizod and the village of Clonee which was under five feet of water.
A wedding party of around 100 people was evacuated from a hotel there. Mulhuddart village was also immersed.
Chapelizod village and Knockmaroon Hill were impassable. Roads were blocked all around the city. Flash floods affected Jamestown, the Enniskerry Road and Stepaside on the south.
Mr Joe Campbell, assistant Civil Defence officer for Dublin City Council, said the services had worked through the night. Yesterday, they were in the Richmond Road area.
Early yesterday morning, 20 people at a time were being evacuated. People could not get out of their homes without help. Food was also distributed to people who did not want to leave their homes.
"We also had the use of a boat at Blanchardstown and Clonee where it is very bad," Mr Campbell said.
About 100 Army personnel were working between Dublin city and north Co Kildare.
A spokesman for the Defence Forces said: "We helped evacuate people from their homes; there were a lot of young children and elderly. We were mainly trying to protect them."
Dublin Bus reported major delays in the morning. Bus Éireann suspended all services on the N1, N2 and N3 roads from about 8 a.m. The NI and N2 opened later and a restricted service operated.
"Conditions will continue to be bad and intending passengers should check with their local bus stations today," a Bus Éireann spokesman said.
DART services resumed after some delays early in the day and Iarnród Éireann reported that trains were running normally except for occasional localised delays.
With the easing of conditions, the N3 road at Blanchardstown was reopened in the early afternoon, but the N2 continued to be blocked at Kilshane Cross.
The extra early weekend traffic, however, meant more long delays for motorists exiting Dublin.
Sinn Féin councillor Mr Christy Burke, who was out in Dublin yesterday, said: "People are trying to come to grips with the damage to their homes."
He called on the Taoiseach to arrange compensation from the Red Cross. Many people, he said, did not have insurance because of previous flooding problems in the area.