Ahead of the national holiday, drivers and all other road users are being reminded to plan ahead and organise a safe way home if socialising over the coming days.

Motorists are urged to take extra care and time to complete their journey over the Christmas period.

For every pedestrian fatality, there were approximately nine serious injuries.

Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly said local authorities are under pressure, but there were significant routes that had been “absolutely destroyed” due to weather