Schools will remain closed until 1 February and teaching will take place online under new strict measures announced by the government today to slow the spread of COVID-19.
There are a number of exceptions though – 6th year Leaving Certificate students will be asked to attend school for three days a week starting next week.
Certain provisions for special education and specialised settings will also be in place during the new lockdown.
Childcare services, including regulated childminders, will remain closed with the exception of services for vulnerable children and children of essential workers.
The new rules will also close construction sites from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with limited exceptions for essential cases.
The Government agreed that the current travel ban in place for people coming from Great Britain and South Africa will be extended until midnight on Friday 8 January.
From 9 January 2021, all passengers arriving at Irish airports and ports from Great Britain or South Africa will be requested to have evidence of a negative result from a PCR Covid-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland.
But there is nothing stopping passengers travelling to Galway after flying to Belfast or Derry without a negative PCR test.
These restrictions are in addition to the Level 5 restrictions announced last week by the government.
Schools, in detail
Outreach services will resume as scheduled. School transport will be available for all students attending school and teachers, SNAs and other school staff will be allowed to travel to school as essential workers.
Exceptions to construction ban
Essential health and related projects including those relevant to preventing, limiting, minimising or slowing the spread of Covid-19 will be allowed as well as social housing projects, including voids, designated as essential sites by Local Authorities based on set criteria.
Housing adaptation grants where the homeowner is agreeable to adaptions are undertaken in their home are permitted and repair, maintenance and construction of critical transport and utility infrastructure.
Education facilities sites are designated as essential by Department of Education.
Supply and delivery of essential or emergency maintenance and repair services to businesses and places of residence (including electrical, gas, plumbing, glazing and roofing services) on an emergency call-out basis will also be allowed.
Finally, certain large construction projects in the exporting / FDI sector based on set criteria will be able to remain open.
