Roads blocked by snow force some schools to stay closed
A SMALL number of schools will remain closed today in the aftermath of the extreme weather.
Any continuing storm-related closures are likely to be in Wexford, west Wicklow, and north Kildare, the areas worst affected by the severe conditions.
In some cases, the closures are a result of hazardous or impassable roads, and others may be due to water supply issues, due to burst pipes.
Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board confirmed last night that all its schools, centres of education and training would open today, with the exception of Bridgetown College, which hopes to open tomorrow.
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But although the vast majority of schools in the worst affected areas will open today, many accept that the conditions may prevent some pupils from making the journey.
As the education system returns to normal, some pupils are enjoying an extra day off, or will have another day off in the next week or so, because of scheduled teacher training linked to the junior cycle reforms.
Uncertainty about school re-openings continued throughout yesterday as school principals and boards of management weighed up the local circumstances.
With deep-lying snow remaining in places in Leinster, and frost and ice forecast for last night, the province remained subject to a Status Orange weather warning until 10am today at least.
At the same time, Met Éireann also warned of a continuing potential for localised flooding due to the thaw.
Bus Éireann, which runs school transport services for 116,00 pupils daily, was in discussions locally with schools where there were outstanding concerns about the feasibility of re-opening.
Yesterday, about 10pc of school bus services did not run because of school closures or the hazardous or impassable roads.
A company spokesperson said the worst-affected areas were the east and south-east, with some disruption in the midlands, and a little disruption in the south/south-west and north-west.