Irish people who are currently abroad and planning to come home are being warned to do so as soon as possible.

The Minster for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said flight restriction and route cancellations are now happening on a daily basis around the world.

“There is no guarantee that air routes will continue to operate for the coming weeks,” he said.

“For this reason, where commercial flights are still an option, we recommend that people who wish to do so, make arrangements to return to Ireland as soon as possible.

“We are aware that this is a stressful situation for citizens and our embassy network is working around the clock to provide them with all the information and assistance that we can – bearing in mind the situation is unfolding across multiple countries and is not one under our control.

He said officials are working with airlines in a bid to encourage maximum flexibility for passengers that need to change their flights.

He said Irish people in Britain should keep a close eye on public announcements with the availability of flight and ferries subject to change.

“Some flight operators have already announced that service will reduce in the coming days,” he said.

“We recommend that Irish visitors to Great Britain closely monitor public announcements regarding the scheduling of flight and ferry services and be prepared to adjust their travel plans accordingly.”

The department has already advised against all non-essential overseas travel until at least March 29th.

The advice includes travel to Britain.

Meanwhile, anyone returning to the country is asked to restrict their movements for 14 days.