A number of schools in Ireland have shut their doors as brutal conditions cut the power in some areas and have made the roads treacherous for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
More than 2,000 homes in Limerick and Clare are without power with a Status Yellow snow and ice warning in effect until 11pm Thursday.
Irish forecasters have since put a status orange Snow and Ice warning in effect for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Connacht, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath as conditions worsen.
FRIDAY UPDATE - READ THE LATEST HERE: Ireland school closures update as Department of Education issues statement amid major snow disruption
READ MORE: Follow live updates as heavy snow hits Ireland
They are alerting the public to "further spells of sleet and snow today combined with strong east to northeast winds. Significant accumulations of snow are expected in some areas along with icy conditions.
"Lying snow and sub-zero temperatures overnight leading to icy stretches".
Possible Impacts include:
- Very hazardous road conditions
- Travel disruption
- Poor Visibility
RTÉ has confirmed that the following post-primary schools are closed today:
- Hazelwood college in Dromcolligher
- Desmond College in Newcastlewest
- Coláiste Íde agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale
There are a number of primary schools that also opted to close their doors today amid the snow, sleet, and rain.
In Clare, post-primary community colleges at Kilmihil and Kildysart have decided to close today due to snow.
Light snow is falling in the county but there has been no major transport or difficult road conditions reported so far.
Limerick City and County Council issued a statement this morning saying that the N21 at Barnagh, a main route between Limerick and Kerry was impassable for HGVs this morning. However, council trucks have now cleared the snow.
Will there be more school closures?
The decision to close a school in the midst of forecasted snow is up to the individual school management and actually has nothing to do with the Department of Education.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education told The Irish Mirror earlier this week: "Any decision to close is taken in the interest of child safety, having assessed the local risks and having consulted, as appropriate, with school transport operators.
"Some of the issues that schools take into account include: conditions in the school itself, capacity of the school to ensure the health and safety of students whilst in school, ability of parents, students, staff and school transport services to safely negotiate local road conditions to reach the school, and guidance and direction from the principal response agencies.
"Guidance on time lost due to unforeseen closures as a result of severe weather is set out in Circular 0005/2020 - Standardisation of the School Year in respect of Primary & Post-Primary Schools for the years 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23."
READ NEXT:
Ireland weather: Low system to bring 'snow to more areas' amid 19-county warning and -4C drop
EuroMillions results: Jackpot of €145 million won as Irish players urged to check tickets
RTE Prime Time viewers praise Sarah McInerney for ‘calling out’ Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien
Cafe hits back at disgruntled customer who left one-star review after 'tasty' Irish breakfast
Woman left with a 'myriad of complications' after travelling to Turkey for weight loss surgery
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
