Clampers have stopped monitoring hundreds of car parks around the country.

Euro Car Parks said most of the 200 car parks it manages are now empty as more and more people stop working.

Managing Director David Cullen said his staff are now helping out with the virus response.

“I was sitting here on Tuesday morning on St Patrick’s Day saying, ‘what will I do with the guys?’ and I was talking to my GP and I asked him if he wanted a hand,” he said.

“He said he didn’t – but his local pharmacy was in real trouble getting prescriptions out.

“The penny dropped then. We just contacted some local pharmacies in Malahide and Swords and they have taken up the opportunity to use us a shuttle service, where we are traceable.

“The guys are delivering prescriptions now to elderly people who were isolated.”

It comes after Dublin City Council yesterday told its clamping contractor to "exercise discretion" in terms of cars parked on roads and streets surrounding hospitals.

Mr Cullen said his clamping teams are still patrolling some areas – including ambulance bays in hospitals.

The company’s commercial car parks are not being patrolled.