Will schools close as cold snap hits Ireland - Rules as country faces 'arctic airmass'
The cold snap and arrival of snow in certain counties may leave some parents wondering how bad conditions have to be before schools consider closing
Wintry conditions arrived all of a sudden, with temperatures plummeting in Ireland and a number of weather warnings issued for the coming days.
The cold snap and arrival of snow in certain counties may leave some parents wondering how bad conditions have to be before schools consider closing.
This comes as the entire country comes under a Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning, which will become valid at 8pm on Tuesday night and Wednesday night and expire at 10am on Wednesday morning and 10am on Thursday morning respectively.
READ MORE - Met Eireann pinpoints where “accumulations” will hit in five-day snow and ice blitz
Meanwhile, the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo have been under a Status Yellow snow/ice warning since 6.45am. This is due to expire at 11am this morning though it remains entirely possible that further county-specific warnings follow from Met Eireann in the hours and days ahead.
According to the Office of Emergency planning, schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings should conduct a pre-event evaluation when it comes to severe weather, establishing what should be or could be put in place to ensure the opening of the premises. This could take into account factors such as the maintenance of the school or ELC, salting and gritting the paths and yard, transport to and from the school or ELC, as well as access to emergency battery-operated radios and torches.
A spokesperson said: "The decision to close a school rests with the school management authority taking into consideration the full guidance and direction available from the principal response agencies, especially An Garda Síochána. Any decision to close is taken in the interest of child safety, having assessed the local risks and having consulted, as appropriate, with school transport operators.
"Some of the issues that schools take into account include:
- conditions in the school itself
- the capacity of the school to ensure the health and safety of students whilst in school
- the ability of parents, students, staff and school transport services to safely negotiate local road conditions to reach the school
- guidance and direction from the principal response agencies."
Schools are advised to actively monitor updates and weather warnings from Met Eireann, and should a Status Red warning be issued, some action will be required by schools and ELCs settings.
Another factor to be considered is classroom temperatures. According to the Irish National Teachers Organisation, classrooms should be heated to a minimum of 16C by 10am and if there is no heating available on a particularly cold day, classes should be cancelled.
Nowadays, most school classrooms have modern heating systems but in the event that the system breaks or pipes freeze over, the school's principal is advised to arrange a different area to learn or cancel classes altogether and send students home.
Most schools or ELCs utilise text messages to communicate with parents, guardians and staff though it is also advisable to keep up-to-date with the latest public guidance on local radio or the school's website and social media.
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's daily newsletter here and get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
