Temperatures could reach up to 32 degrees in places.
Contingency plans have been put in place in Dublin to protect homeless people during the “exceptionally warm weather” set to reach Ireland over the next few days.
Dublin City Council (DCC) has said it is coordinating the response to ensure homeless people at risk are sheltered for the duration of any extreme weather event.
“In response to the hot weather warning expected over the coming days, arrangements are in place with service providers to ensure that temporary shelter will continue to be available to all who wish to access it,” the lead statutory authority in the Dublin region said in a statement on Saturday (16 July).
“The [Dublin Region Homeless Executive-funded] Dublin Street Outreach Service and Housing First Intake Team (provided by Dublin Simon & Peter McVerry Trust) will be engaging with those at risk of rough sleeping in order to provide shelter for anyone who needs it.”
DCC states that the outreach teams will ensure:
- The distribution of water and sunscreen
- The provision of shelter as required
- The encouragement of people to be sun aware
- The use of social media and apps to ask the public to report people sleeping rough during the hot weather
The council is also encouraging anyone requiring emergency accommodation to contact their local authority or the DCC’s freephone number for its homeless services, which is 1800 707 707.
On Friday morning, Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow high temperature warning for the entire country.
Valid from 6am on Sunday to 9pm on Tuesday, the alert reads: “On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday exceptionally warm weather will occur over Ireland with daytime temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees generally and possibly up to 32 degrees in places on Monday.
“Nighttime temperatures will range from 15 to 20 degrees.”
Met Éireann added that the impact of these high temperatures could include the following:
- Heat stress, especially for the more vulnerable of the population
- High Solar UV index
- Risk of water-related incidents
The warning followed Met Éireann meteorologist Aoife Kealy telling JOE that next Monday (18 July) is set to be the hottest day of not only the current warm spell but also this year so far.
Not only that, it might end up breaking the record for the hottest day in the country since records began, a record previously set way back in June 1887, when a temperature of 33.3 degrees was recorded in Kilkenny.
In terms of safety advice for during the heatwave, Kealy advised people to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and to “try to avoid the midday sun”.
For information on how to be best prepared for the hot weather, visit the Be Summer Ready section on the Government’s website here.
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