Most schools to reopen but some stay shut due to road conditions

MOST schools around the country reopen today after a two or three-day shutdown caused by the severe weather – but impassable roads will force many to remain closed.

Continuing closures are most likely in areas worst affected by the snow, such as Wexford, west Wicklow and other parts of the south-east, and north Kildare.

It was left to individual schools to make their own decisions based on local conditions, and any other issues that may affect their ability to open, such as a working heating system and water supply.

Schools in areas where it was feasible to open were checking their premises yesterday and consulting with school bus operators in order to make decisions about opening.

Bus Éireann, which operates school transport services for 116,000 pupils daily, said buses were back today, but they are dependent on road conditions.

According to Bus Éireann, many of the services operate in rural areas and on minor routes and, in certain parts of the country, these roads remain in a very poor condition or are impassable.

Bus Éireann said that given the ongoing Status Orange warning in some areas until noon today, there was likely to be disruption, particularly in parts of the east, south and south-east.

The company said it was “making every effort to ensure as many school transport services as possible operate, where the school is open and it’s safe to do so.

“The safety of children and staff on board is the key deciding factor in the operation of any service.”

Third-level colleges are also open again today but Dublin City University delayed the start of lectures until noon, while Maynooth University advised that most teaching is expected to go ahead as scheduled, with a waiver of penalties for non-attendance and a rescheduling of any significant in-class tests.