Just seven of the 125 students at Claremorris Boys National School arrived for school this morning.

Most parents with children in the school appear to have kept their boys at home due to concerns over the spread of Covid-19.
The school had intended to close early ahead of the Christmas break after recording more than a dozen cases of Covid 19 over the last three weeks.
However, on Friday last, the Department of Education instructed the school to remain open.
Apart from the confirmed cases of the virus in the school, the Claremorris  electoral area is currently experiencing a high level of Covid cases.

Principal of the school Mark Loftus told Midwest News that his efforts to reason with Public Health and the Department of Education had fallen on deaf ears. He is isolating at home himself today as he has now been exposed as a close contact of a confirmed case.

Midwest News contacted the dept of Education to ask the Minister for Education why the school is obliged to stay open despite the outbreak.

The dept’s press office has issued this response:

The Dept does not comment on individual cases.

 Public Health guidelines state that when a covid-19 positive case connected with a school arises, public health contact the school and undertake a public health risk assessment to identify the actions required.

 When a risk assessment is undertaken, it takes into account all of the evidence in relation to the particular circumstances of the school and the advice provided is based on this.

 Schools are then required to follow public health advice in these circumstances.

 While the Department understands that schools and principals have been working tirelessly through these unprecedented times, it is important that the advice and expertise of public health leads decisions about closure and other measures schools need to take.

 Schools will close for the Christmas holidays on Tuesday 22 December and will remain closed until 6 January.  

 These holiday periods have been fixed to allow parents and the school communities to plan ahead for basic work, child minding necessities and any other family plans at this time of year.