A second-level teachers' union has said schools should be allowed to close early for Christmas so that students and teachers have more time to restrict their movements before meeting elderly or vulnerable relatives.
All schools are due to close on Tuesday 22 December. However, the Teachers' Union of Ireland has called for "serious consideration" to be given to closing schools on Friday 18 December instead.
The TUI said such a move would also boost morale. Yesterday Minister for Education Norma Foley ruled out any elongated Christmas break for schools.
Ms Foley told an Oireachtas committee that her department had no intention at this stage of extending the Christmas break. She said it was working hard to ensure that no more school time would