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Gardaí have confirmed that a man, a woman and two children died in the house fire in Waterford.
Two other children have been taken to hospital for treatment for critical injuries.
In a statement released this morning via RTE, Waterford Garda Station said that it was alerted to a house fire at Birchwood Avenue at 5.13am this morning.
It said: "A number of units from surrounding stations attended and on arrival found a well-developed fire. Firefighting operations commenced immediately, and a number of casualties were removed from the two-storey house. The fire was extinguished and the scene handed over to An Garda Síochána."
Gardaí have said via RTE, that they are currently investigating all the circumstances of the fatal house fire.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána confirmed that an incident room has been established at Waterford Garda Station under the direction of a senior investigating officer (SIO), with Family Liaison Officers also assigned to support the victim's family.
It has been reported by Paul Reynolds that gardaí have opened a criminal investigation into the blaze, with arson currently being pursued as a primary line of inquiry.
The family who live in the house are well known residents in the area.
Describing the situation as ongoing and fluid, Gardaí urged the public to give emergency crews sufficient time and space to manage the scene.
Expressing his condolences, Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the incident deeply disturbing and echoed calls for the public to let first responders do their work.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane, who knows the family, told RTÉ he was "utterly heartbroken" by the tragedy. The circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation.
