'No one is turned away' says Cork Simon as temperatures expected to fall to -8C this week

Cork County Council crews gritting footpaths in preparation for another freezing night. A status yellow low temperature/ice warning for the entire country has been extended until midday on Friday. Picture: Andy Gibson

As Arctic conditions settle over the country this week, with temperatures as low as -8C predicted, the bitter cold has put extra pressure on homeless services.

A status yellow low temperature/ice warning for the entire country has been extended until midday on Friday. It is to remain very cold with widespread frosts and icy stretches, some freezing fog, and some showers of hail, sleet, and snow mainly near coasts.