Investigations have been launched following a series of hoax bomb alerts at schools across Ireland.

It is understood schools in Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Carlow and Waterford all received communications claiming that devices had been left at the buildings this morning.

Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Pond, who works at Milford National School in Limerick, told Newstalk that staff were well prepared for the evacuation there as regular drills are carried out on school grounds.

The PSNI has also begun investigations following seven similar alerts in the North this morning.

DUP MLA Peter Weird, a governor of Bloomfied Primary School in Co Down, said the culprits must be condemned and brought to justice. 

"This was an extremely traumatising experience for the young children concerned, and deeply worrying for their parents and teachers," he said.

While dozens of incidents were also reported in the UK yesterday.

No devices have been found and all reports have been declared hoaxes.

Gardaí and the PSNI are liasing with each other as inquiries continue.

Deputy leader of the Green Party, Catherine Martin, says it is a reminder to schools to ensure they have emergency procedures in place.