Construction of a 42-bed ward extension at the hospital started late last year.

It comes ahead of a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday to discuss measures to tackle the crisis.

Leitrim saw the largest figure locally in both years, going from 12 to 10 this year.

In Longford Town, volunteers have been out since early morning collecting donations and raising awareness about the worthy cause.

The late Kamil Gumiela was a native of Poland and had been residing in the Cam area of Edgeworthstown at the time of the incident.

Aoife Kealy, Forecaster with Met Éireann, has the weather outlook for the rest of the weekend

The theft occurred at a residence in the Drumcong and Drumshanbo area.