Weather havoc continues

There is severe disruption to water supplies around the country this evening as reservoirs remain depleted following the severe cold snap, while heavy rain and high tides have also led to flooding in areas of Munster.

There is severe disruption to water supplies around the country this evening as reservoirs remain depleted following the cold snap, while heavy rain and high tides have also led to flooding in areas of Munster.

Many areas are experiencing low water pressure while some areas have no water at all.

Areas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Clare and Donegal are amongst the worst affected.

Supplies in Dublin city were said to be critical.

"Dublin City Council is calling on the public, businesses, schools and everybody in the community to conserve water," officials said.

"This is because water levels are at a critically low level and demand is at an all-time high."

South Dublin County Council said many residents had lost their water supply this evening.

Water is gone in the areas north of the Naas Road, which include Lucan, Palmerstown and Clondalkin with the exception of Clondalkin Village.

Monastery, the Green Isle Area, Newcastle and Rathcoole are also affected.

The supply will remain off until 4am and customers should have their water back by around 9am tomorrow morning.

Clare County Council said it is experiencing a dramatic increase in demand throughout the county, especially affecting the Shannon Area and the Loop Head / Carrigaholt area of west Clare.

This is as a result of increased leakage, pipe bursts and unnecessary usage of water, officials said.

Limerick County Council meanwhile said that despite the thaw, they anticipate further disruption in the days ahead.

Conditions were also continuing to disrupt traffic and transport.

A number of bus services in Cork have been cancelled or diverted after key routes around the city were deemed impassable.

Meanwhile some of the city's smaller rivers burst their banks during the day, with flash flooding reported in Blackpool village on the north side.

The town of Skibbereen remains on high alert, with the civil defence and army laying thousands of sandbags to protect homes and businesses amid a flood warning.

However parts of both the east and west coasts were also experiencing renewed snowfall this evening.

Conor Faughnan of the AA explains the bizarre challenges facing some councils.

"What we are going to be left with is a lot of damaged roads, and some extremely dirty, mucky and slippery roads," Mr Faughnan said.

"Just because ice has gone… that does not mean that roads are now safe."