The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, has said the Government has no intention to extend the school closures beyond the first week of January but added they are keeping "everything under review".
Yesterday the Taoiseach announced that schools would remain closed until Monday 11 January. Primary and secondary schools had been due to reopen on Wednesday 6 January.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, Ms McEntee said delaying the return by a few days gives both students and staff a chance to limit their contacts. "Given the sharp rise in numbers, we have a lot of people isolating, it gives them time to go through that period and everyone a chance to limit contacts," she said.