A primary school in Co Mayo is to close for the Christmas holidays today due to concerns about the rate of Covid-19 transmission in the community.
The move is in contravention of Department of Education rules which require all State-funded schools to remain open until next Friday.
Claremorris Boys National School told parents last night that it believed early closure was right and necessary at this stage.
It said that despite not being able to secure sanction for closure from the Department and the HSE public health, "this is the only practical way we can help prevent further elevation and spread of Covid cases among the school community".