Ireland’s cold snap looks set to extend into early next week as Met Éireann issued an ice warning for the whole country on Thursday.
Low temperatures and ice could create “hazardous conditions”, the forecaster warned, with the warning coming into effect at 10pm on Thursday and remaining in place until 10am on Friday.
The national forecaster said: “a sharp to severe frost with icy surfaces, as temperatures widely fall to - 4 degrees”.
“The single coldest day looks like it will be Sunday but at night the temperatures will be a bit more constant,” a Met Éireann meteorologist said.
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“It’s possible that we will see further, similar low temperature or ice warnings for the following nights after that but we will wait until closer to the time to issue those.”
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Age Action has said it is concerned some older people may be reluctant to turn on their heating due to anxiety over bills, with gas prices having increased in recent months, aggravating broader cost-of-living pressures.
“They are minimising their lives because of the rising cost of energy and trying to meet their needs, their basic needs,” the charity’s head of advocacy Celine Clarke told RTÉ on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme which she said was expected to see over 80,000 additional households qualify for a payment for the first time.
“The one thing I do not want to see is any old person afraid to turn on their heating,” Ms Humphreys said.
“Our senior citizens have worked hard all their lives; they have put in their shift and I want to make sure they can live in comfort.”
Meanwhile, the AA urged motorists to ensure vehicles are prepared for extreme weather.
“It is so important that tyres are in good condition – summer tyres don’t behave brilliantly,” a spokesman said.
