Calls have been made for an independent review of Irish Water’s plans to spend €1.3bn building a system to pump drinking water from the Shannon to the greater Dublin area.

Levon Dmitriev needs some money to save his home. Mr Dmitriev is of Russian origin, but has been living here for nearly 20 years and is a naturalised Irish citizen.

Dozens of people lined up outside Leinster House with sleeping bags to urge the Government to open extra beds for the homeless as temperatures plummet.