SCHOOLS:HUNDREDS OF schools will not reopen after the Christmas holidays today because of the hazardous weather conditions.
Some schools texted parents to say they would not be reopening while others used radio stations to pass on the message.
Schools confirmed as being closed are in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly.
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A number of schools in Dublin and other cities will also be closed.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation predicted most primary schools would remain closed until after the weekend. Burst pipes, hazardous roads, dangerous school yards and the likely unavailability of school transport were all cited as reasons for not reopening today.
Seán Cottrell of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network said about two-thirds of the schools that had contacted the network had signalled their intention to remain closed today.
He said the network received more than 300 calls from principals over the past two days on the issue. “This is unprecedented for most schools,” he said.
Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, which represents voluntary secondary schools, said: “It’s impossible to say how many will open. It’s all down to local conditions in the catchment area.”
Like most representative bodies, the Catholic Primary School Management Association had posted advice to schools on its website. Its general secretary Margaret Gorman said some schools had yet to decide on reopening last night, and much would depend on weather conditions this morning.
Rose Tully of the National Parents’ Council (Post Primary) said parents were also deciding for themselves and one parent told her she would not allow her children go to school because footpaths were dangerous.
The IVEA, which represents vocational education committees, said health and safety concerns were paramount. Its general secretary Michael Moriarty said some school yards were extremely dangerous due to ice and snow.
He said teachers were anxious to return to school and were particularly concerned about their exam students. “People ask why schools in Sweden can continue and we can’t, but our schools aren’t set up for this,” he said.
An INTO spokesman said where safety in school or travelling to and from school was compromised then schools had properly decided to close.
“The severity of the weather conditions is different in different parts of the country,” he said. “Any uncertainty about schools opening was due to schools waiting to see if there was any possibility of opening safely.”
He said boards of management had made decisions based on the advice of the principal as well as information from local gardaí, regional Bus Éireann management and local authorities.
Labour party education spokesman Ruairí Quinn said the severe weather conditions should not stop schools reopening.
A list of confirmed school closures is on irishtimes.com
