Some schools sent pupils home with their books for Christmas in case Covid-19 forced a delay to the start of the new term in January. The reopening of schools on Wednesday, January 6, is a Government priority and the Department of Education did not issue any advice to the country's 4,000 schools to make contingency arrangements of that nature. As the Cabinet brought forward the lockdown of other activities in the face of the third Covid-19 wave, a spokesperson for Education Minister Norma Foley said they were committed to schools reopening on January 6. A spokesperson for Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said they expected colleges would be in a position to bring first years on to campus safely for activities such as small group teaching. Arrangements will vary between colleges and courses but a spokesperson for the minister said that he "would still expect that to happen".

Source: The Herald December 23, 2020 02:26 UTC