Updated at 12.07pm

AN ARMY BOMB disposal team has been called to an area in Tallaght for the second time in less than 12 hours to deal with a possible explosive device.

The team is currently at the scene in the Raheen/Whitebrook area of Tallaght.

Earlier, a number of homes in Tallaght were evacuated in the early hours of this morning after a viable explosive device was discovered in a housing estate.

An Army bomb disposal team was called to the scene in Cushlawn Park just after 2.30am when the device was found outside a private home.

The area around the house was cordoned off by Gardaí and local residents were brought to a safe location.

The device was made safe at the scene and brought to a secure military location for further examination where it was declared to be a viable Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The remains of the device have been handed over to the Gardaí who are carrying out an investigation into what happened.

This was the 64th viable IED made safe by Army bomb disposal teams so far this year.

Cushlawn Park in Tallaght. (Image: Google Maps)