Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers have a strict duty of care to protect staff from heat stress.

Current indications are for a return to more unsettled conditions for the long weekend, with some rain and showers forecast. Highest daytime temperatures falling back to the mid to high teens.

Joanne Walsh of Water Safety Ireland said that, during an eight-week period, seven children had died.

Friday will be very warm or hot with top temperatures of 21 to 28 or 29 degrees.

While temperatures are set to be high, there will showers throughout the week as well.

Met Éireann said it will be dry in many areas this afternoon and evening with long sunny spells