Homeless services are calling on the Housing Minister to provide more emergency beds for rough sleepers as the country prepares for icy conditions this week.

A five-day Status Yellow snow-ice warning came into effect this morning – with most areas expected to face sub-zero overnight temperatures this week.

Met Éireann has warned that there will be widespread frost at night with icy stretches on untreated surfaces, with accumulations of snow expected.

The west and northwest is expected to get the worst of snow and sleet showers.

Rough sleepers

The Inner City Helping Homeless charity has warned that up to 80 people are still sleeping rough in Dublin – despite the cold snap.

CEO Anthony Flynn said emergency measures must be put in place.

“Although we have seen a 55% reduction in the number of people that are sleeping rough through the Christmas period into January, we still have up to 80 people a night that are sleeping rough across the capital,” he said.

“We are urging the minister and pleading with the minister to implement contingency plans.”

He said the Government must work with homeless services to put contingency plans in place.

“It has been done before through extreme cold weather initiatives,” he said.

“We are urging the minister to do that today.

“All those that want to access beds or need a bed available to them – that should be made available.”

Status Yellow

The Status Yellow snow and ice warning is expected to remain in place for five days – with the west and northwest expected to get the worst of snow and sleet showers.

Met Éireann's John Eagleton says the greatest risk of snow showers will be overnight tomorrow and Thursday.

“The big threat of snow this week remains on later Wednesday night and Thursday,” he said.

“The winds turn easterly and a depression through the south of Ireland injects a lot of moisture into those easterly winds.

“That has the potential for a good bit of snow.

“Otherwise, we will just get some wintry showers later on today and tonight and most of those will be in the western half of the country.”