Schools, third-level institutions and childcare facilities are set to remain closed until at least April 19th in support of efforts to combat the coronavirus, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. He also said that there is a “very good chance” Leaving Cert exams will go ahead and urged students to continue studying. Mr Varadkar said he was was hopeful schools might be able to come back in May and June and to “have the Leaving Cert in the normal way”. However, if this did not happen, he said the Minister for Education was working on contingency plans to allow the Leaving Cert to go ahead. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have called for clarity around contingency plans for the State exams.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2020 16:16 UTC