It's the biggest public service strike in more than 15 years
A national strike by public sector workers is underway in an ongoing dispute over pay.
Schools and colleges will be closed, while non-emergency procedures and operations have been cancelled in hospitals as teachers and nurses take to the picket lines.
It's the biggest public service strike in more than 15 years with more than 300,000 workers taking part.
Routine appointments and planned procedures are expected to be affected, but emergency care will continue.
Meanwhile in Kildare, Fórsa members have been on the picket line at Kildare County Council offices in Naas since 7am.
Adrian Foran, the union's secretary for Kildare Local Government, says the government's handling of the dispute hasn't been good enough:
Strikes are also taking place in Athy:
Up to two thousand picket lines will be manned at hospitals, schools, county councils, courts and more across the country throughout the day.
Strikes began at midnight at local authority facilities, with members working in ambulance services, universities, fire services and State agencies to join the work stoppage over the coming hours.
Some driving tests have been cancelled, schools are closed, heritage sites operated by the OPW are shut and there's no Dáil sitting.
Dublin Bus and Bis Eireann drivers aren't striking, but services may be disrupted as drivers can't pass picket lines.
Today's strike action comes after union leaders rejected the government's offer of Workplace Relations Commission talks this week, with a second day of action planned for next Wednesday.
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