IPPN

Published: 30 November 2010

TENS of thousands of children may have to take shorter mid-term or Christmas holidays after the bad weather forced their schools to close.

Hundreds of schools did not open yesterday after the heavy weekend snowfalls and dangerous driving conditions, particularly in coastal and eastern counties. The continued freezing conditions could lead to those closures being extended today, and hundreds more schools telling students to stay at home.

More than 60 schools in Wicklow, where some of the lowest temperatures on record have been experienced in recent days, were reported as being closed by local radio. Dozens more were closed in coastal regions of Cork, particularly in west Cork, and in Kerry as bus services were cancelled and families in isolated areas left stranded after around three to four inches of snow fell locally overnight on Sunday and in the early hours of yesterday.

Further closures were expected today with more snowfall overnight, particularly in coastal areas.

More than 120 schools in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford were shut yesterday. Most schools in the Donegal region closed and dozens more were shut for the day in Sligo and Leitrim.

Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com