Mayo primary school which closed today due to Covid outbreak told to reopen on Monday

The Department of Education has ordered a Mayo primary school which closed today due to Covid concerns to reopen on Monday.

The board of management of Claremorris Boys National School informed parents it is closing from today until January 5 due because of high Covid rates in the school.

However, the school has told RTÉ News this evening that it has been directed by the Department of Education to reopen.

It said its board of management will consider the issue and it is likely that it will be forced to reopen.

The school, which has 125 pupils, stressed that it had intended providing online platform learning for pupils at home until the Christmas holidays begin on Tuesday, December 22.

Mark Loftus, principal, had stated the school had not taken the decision to close without approval from the authorities lightly.