The Government will decide this Wednesday if schools are to return on January 11th as had been planned.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the decision will be taken at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Many Opposition members do not think it is wise to open schools in the middle of soaring Covid numbers.
They will meet with Education Minister Norma Foley to discuss the issue at 4pm today.
A decision will be made on Wednesday when the Government takes advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the decision would be based on “the most up-to-date information we have”.
Ministers wanted to give as much notice as possible to schools and families, said Minister Donnely.
He said there was more contagion and more infection than during the first coronavirus surge, but stressed the arrival of vaccinations was “the great hope”.
It comes as the head of the HSE, Paul Reid wanted that figures of Covid will reach up to 7,000 cases per day in the coming days.
Damien White of the Primary Principals’ Association suggested schools should not reopen until January 18th, arguing that would allow the current surge to abate and contact tracing to be re-established.