Schools to stay shut until January 11, Cabinet set to agree

An emergency meeting was held today.

Schools will remain shut until January 11, according to a plan soon to be agreed on by the Cabinet. RTÉ News reports that rather than reopening as expected on Wednesday, January 6 schools in Ireland will remain closed until January 11 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A meeting was scheduled today to allow the Cabinet to make a decision regarding a return to Level 5 restrictions without amendments. Officials are currently discussing whether Ireland will return to March-like restrictions as cases of Covid-19 continue to rise. It is expected that the country will return to these measures. Yesterday the Department of Health reported 1,546 new cases of coronavirus, the highest ever daily figure in Ireland. Currently, the country is operating under amended Level 5 restrictions, which has allowed for the opening of non-essential retail and home visits from one other household. Full Level 5 restrictions would shut all non-essential retail and ban household visits entirely. It would also lead to a restriction on travel outside of a designated radius. Yesterday, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) released a letter asking the government to extend the Christmas holidays for students and teachers.  The letter, addressed to Minister for Education and Skills, Department for Education and Skills, Norma Foley and written on December 29, reads:

"I write in advance of tomorrow’s cabinet meeting regarding additional public health measures to request that government give consideration to delaying the start of the next school term until Monday January 11, 2021 at the earliest. I believe that the education partners would support changed arrangements for the standardised school year on public health grounds in the interest of securing safer schools for pupils, staff and their families. The INTO remains strongly committed to supporting our 42,000 members in safe workplaces, as they endeavour to teach and support the wellbeing of their pupils at school where children undoubtedly benefit greatly. However, it is now becoming very clear that the ability of schools to operate normally is likely to be seriously impaired due to the higher numbers of staff and students who will need to self-isolate and/or restrict movement in the weeks following Christmas."

The government is expected to make a formal announcement regarding the latest Covid measures soon.