The town of Arklow, Co Wicklow, was on high alert last night after continuous rain fell on the south-east yesterday and flooded many areas.
A Met Éireann spokesman said an easterly wind contributed to adverse conditions, which saw 25 to 40 millimetres of rain fall in some parts of the south and east. Heavy rain meant that surface water was not clearing quickly.
Council staff and Civil Defence volunteers were out from early afternoon protecting new housing in some areas of the town. The lower Main Street and the Ferrybank area were flooded by 6pm and traffic was diverted from along the Arklow bypass.
Householders expressed fears of a repetition of flood conditions of two years ago which caused the town's sewage system to back up, overflowing into private homes and spilling into the streets.
However, as the high tide approached around 10pm, most of the flood waters had subsided, with relatively minor flooding reported around Mahon's Lane, The Brook and Richview Terrace. Thomas Murphy of Wicklow County Council said prompt action in clearing drains had enabled most of the flood waters to dissipate.
Council staff and members of the Civil Defence used sandbags in vulnerable areas in preparation for a high tide expected at 10.20pm. Wicklow County Council set up a telephone helpline and kept its offices open, along with those of councils in the towns of Arklow, Bray, Greystones and Wicklow, where areas were also at risk.
As townspeople in Arklow made efforts to keep the flood waters out of their homes, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche was criticised by a Fine Gael councillor and campaigner for flood-relief measures.
Arklow town councillor Donal O'Sullivan said people were upset that a flood-relief scheme promised for the area for the last 12 years had not been provided. He accused Mr Roche of giving the scheme a low priority, after relief works in Inchicore in Dublin, Clonmel in Co Tipperary and Kilkenny, among other areas, had been approved.
"We are right now placing the blame fairly and squarely on Dick Roche," he said.
Mr Roche hit back at Cllr O'Sullivan, claiming that as a solicitor, Mr O'Sullivan "would know better than most that the Arklow sewerage scheme has been held up by an appeal to the Supreme Court".
Mr Roche told The Irish Times the money for the scheme was available and the work had been prioritised.
Other parts of Leinster and Munster experienced major flooding last night after the widespread heavy rainfall. Waterford city, as well as Gorey and Ballymoney in Co Wexford, were among the places badly hit. Parts of Cork and Co Louth were also affected.
In the village of Passage East, Co Waterford, a brook overflowed, causing thousands of euro worth of damage to houses. In Co Cavan, a number of houses in Crosskeys village near Ballyjamesduff were under threat.