LATEST: Schools to remain closed Tuesday; Ophelia causing extensive damage locally 

The effects of ex-Hurricane Ophelia are being felt in the Midlands with power outages and reports of damage to trees and buildings throughout the Athlone area. 

Here's the latest information we've been hearing:

* All schools are to remain closed tomorrow (Tuesday) the Department of Education has stated. The Department said individual third level colleges can make their own decisions on whether or not to reopen tomorrow. Athlone IT said it will reopen tomorrow morning. 

* Power outages have been reported in several areas, mainly on the outskirts of Athlone. Areas affected include Coosan, Monksland, Drum, Cornafulla, Muckanagh, Kilkenny West, Tang, and Drumraney.

* There has been structural damage to the roof of an apartment building at River Village in Monksland. The residents are reportedly being evacuated. This photo which appears to show part of the building's roof on the ground, was taken by Paul Molloy a short time ago:

* In the last hour, Gardai in Athlone received a report from the council that there are five trees down on the Ballymahon Road and one of these landed on a parked car. The car was completely mangled, but thankfully there was nobody in it at the time. 

* Trees are down in several other areas locally including on the Retreat Road, on Southern Station Road, and on the Athlone side of Brideswell village. 

* A shopfront sign was knocked to the ground in the vicinity of Athlone Towncentre. 

* The severe winds scattered hoarding and bollards from council roadworks that had been taking place at the Crescent junction in Athlone:

* The Defence Forces has said its "personnel, vehicles and equipment are on standby around the country ready to support primary response agencies and communities."