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The country’s three main teaching unions have all voiced grave concern with plans to keep schools open for Leaving Cert students and children with special needs.
The Taoiseach this afternoon confirmed that schools around the country would remain shut until February at the earliest.
However, Leaving Cert students will return on Monday and are due to attend classes for three days a week.
Individual schools will be given autonomy to decide how that will work in practice.
Meanwhile, the provision of special education will also resume on Monday in special schools, special classes and in specialised settings.
Childcare providers are calling for more clarity on the definition of frontline and essential workers, the day before they have been asked to reopen to cater for priority groups.
Teachers’ unions have welcomed the delayed opening of schools, saying that while opening the doors was the preferred option, public safety is the priority.
The Government last night confirmed an extension to the school Christmas holidays, with pupils now due back on Monday January 11, instead of the previous Wednesday.
Michael Gillespie, general secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) said while the union had wanted schools to open up as normal after Christmas, that was only ever going to be possible “if it was safe”.
“Our members are very anxious, we are in schools and colleges with students from 13 to 18 years of age.
Teachers unions have welcomed the delayed opening of schools, saying that while opening the doors was the preferred option, public safety is the priority.
The Teachers Union of Ireland says the new public pay deal locks in pay discrimination and it can t endorse the agreement.
The second-level teachers union says it would leave new teachers earning 15 percent less than their colleagues did when they were hired.
The 302 million euro a year agreement would increase pay levels by two per cent overall.
But TUI president Martin Marjoram says the pay gap imposed in 2011 will still give new entrants career losses: