Department of Education confirms late start for schools in areas under orange and red warnings 

The Department of Education has advised that schools in areas under orange or red weather warnings, will remain closed until 10am at the earliest, tomorrow. 

It follows on from the advice given at a meeting of the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group today, as precautionary measures were planned in advance of Storm Debi making land in Ireland tonight.

In a statement, issued this evening, the Department noted that a Status Red wind warning has been put in place for Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, East Galway and South Roscommon from 2am until 5am Monday, while a separate Status Red wind warning has been put in place for Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath, Wicklow, Offaly and Westmeath from 5am until 8am Monday.

It said a Status Orange wind warning will be in place for counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway and Roscommon from 2am until 10am Monday. A separate Status Orange wind warning will also be in place for Cork from 1am to 4am Monday.

It said that Bus Éireann has advised it will not be operating school transport on Monday morning in the counties affected by the Status Red and Orange Warnings. 

Afternoon services are intended to operate as normal, subject to local road conditions being safe to travel.

"Bus Éireann will not be able to reschedule the school transport services in the morning in any of the counties affected by Red and Orange weather warnings. This is due to the difficulty in arranging alternative pick-up times for points on the various routes and contacting families, contractors and schools at short notice," the statement continued. 

"The National Emergency Co-Ordination Group has given this advice on school opening hours based on the balance of risk and to ensure public safety for students and staff in all schools. School managers at local level will advise parents of any disruption to school services.

"All schools should keep up-to-date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins, remaining vigilant for any change in the status warning for their area," it added.