Hospitals are warning of potential disruption to services once they get back up and running later.
Industrial action by nurses ends at 8am, but there is no sign of any breakthrough in the dispute over pay and working conditions.
The HSE has said there may be a surge in patients in emergency departments today – as people who stayed away yesterday attend for treatment.
Separately, the Psychiatric Nurses Association said its 6,000 members will refuse to work overtime today and tomorrow.
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The funerals of four friends who were killed in a crash in County Donegal will take place today.
The young men, who were all in their 20s, lost their lives in a single vehicle collision near Gortahork on Sunday night.
Two of the funerals are due to get underway this morning, with the second two due to begin this afternoon.
Guards of honour made up of the various clubs, teams and schools the young men were involved with are expected to line the streets.
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As Met Éireann's yellow snow and ice warning remains in place, all road users are urged to take extra care this morning.
Temperatures plunged to as low as -4C overnight in parts of the country overnight.
While most motorways and main routes have been gritted, local authorities are advising that not all secondary and minor roads have been treated.
It will be bitterly cold and rather windy today with further wintry showers, especially on higher ground.
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A leading housing charity is warning that the homeless crisis is getting worse.
Figures released yesterday show a slight drop in the number of people in emergency accommodation last month – down by 215 to 9,753.
Focus Ireland welcomed the decrease – but noted that the number of homeless people increased significantly last year.
Spokesperson Roughan Mac Namara said the Government must change its policy and deliver more social housing in order to begin tackling the crisis.
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Wind energy has brought lower electricity prices to Ireland and resulted in reduced carbon emissions.
That is according to the first ever cost-benefit analysis of the resource, which was carried out by Baringa on behalf of the Irish Wind Energy Association.
The resource provides around 30% of all energy in Ireland – at a net cost of €1 per person since 2000.
Baringa director, Dr Mark Turner, who carried out the study, said the challenge for Ireland now is for Ireland to get the best use out of this abundant resource.
