Teachers in Clare say forward planning is needed from the Department of Education to ensure schools can re-open their doors in January.
It comes as a number of Oireachtas representatives nationwide are calling for schools to close tomorrow for Christmas.
Schools are scheduled to close for the traditional Christmas break next Wednesday, the 22nd of December.
Around 20 percent of new COVID cases diagnosed in the last 14 days were in children aged 5 to 11, which has prompted calls in some quarters for them to close early from tomorrow.
People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy says public health officials have made serious mistakes regarding schools in the past.
One West Clare principal says he’ll be sending his pupils home with their books when they do break for Christmas in anticipation of any potential extended closure in January.
The Government insists schools will reopen next month as planned.
However, Principal at St Joseph’s National School, Miltown Malbay, Aidan Looney, says their online learning systems will be ready to go in the new year.
An Ennis principal meanwhile wants the State to put in place long term plans to deal with COVID to ensure schools can re-open in January and stay open beyond that.
Donal O hAinifein of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg says investment in air filtration systems is going to be needed from the Department of Education going forward.
