Several areas across the country are already blanketed in snow - with more on the way. Met Eireann says the bitter cold is expected to persist through the rest of the working week. It has extended a nationwide Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning until midnight on Friday,

Ireland is enduring a severe cold snap with temperatures as low as -8C, accompanied by widespread frost, ice and snow. However, a dramatic shift is expected within days, with temperatures set to swing by 18C.

Met Eireann has extended the weather warning for the entire country as the national forecaster warns of "very cold nights with widespread frost and ice" and "temperatures struggling to get above freezing during the day.

The Departments of Education and Transport and Bus Éireann also met this morning to discuss the potential impacts of the weather on schools, which are due to reopen tomorrow