A new alerts initiative for schools aims to combat 'mitching' as well as bringing costs down.

Over 500,000 emergency alerts were seen by people since Sunday using an extreme weather alert service developed by a former council official.

A new high-speed alert system is to be piloted in Co Cork within weeks which will provide people with specific information about severe weather alerts, road closures, travel delays and water-off or boil water notices in their own areas.