The CEO of a homeless charity in Dublin has said the current cold snap is an “emergency” that needs an immediate response from the Government.
A status yellow low temperature warning has now come into effect for the whole country.
Met Éireann has warned of widespread frost and ice with temperatures expected to drop to -3C or below in some areas.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management meanwhile said it is liaising with Met Éireann regarding the possibility of disruptive weather over the weekend.
Chair of the Tiglin Lighthouse Homeless Café Aubrey McCarthy said the cold snap is a life or death situation for people who are forced to sleep outside.
A weather advisory has been issued as sleet and snow are expected in some parts of the country. ❄️🥶
Valid from: Saturday 04/01/2025 to Monday 06/01/2025
For more information, visit: https://t.co/IMZz9b975Q pic.twitter.com/YxOfm6rtVz
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 2, 2025
"We're dealing with serious, serious weather issues and unfortunately for the people we feed, that's a life or death situation," he said.
Mr McCarthy said nobody should be sleeping on the streets during the cold snap.
"I'm calling for the Government to ensure that the Winter Initiative, the Cold Weather Initiative for Homelessness, encompasses everybody and also that the weather warning that has gone out to motorists and people with animals should apply to the most vulnerable on our streets," he said.
A pedestrian walking past a rough sleeper in a tent in Dublin City Centre. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ieThe Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) has asked the public to report any rough sleepers to the Dublin Rough Sleeper Alerts app.
The public can also report the location of rough sleepers through this website.
The group also provided a total new capacity of 192 beds.
"The DRHE along with our outreach providers will continue to monitor the weather and likely changes to weather warnings over the coming days and activate extreme weather emergency accommodation as required," a DRHE spokesperson said.
The DHRE said emergency accommodation is available through the four Dublin Local Authorities.
Feature image shows a car in frosty weather, Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
