A primary school in Co Mayo has decided to close from today until after the Christmas holidays over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
The Board of Management at Claremorris Boys National School say the "very difficult decision" is the right thing to do and necessary at this stage.
It says it is the only practical way to help prevent the further elevation and spread of COVID-19 cases among the school community.
The Board also states it is "deeply frustrated" at the system adopted by Public Health on cross-infection levels and the Department regarding COVID-19.
It is particularly concerned about the insistence that "schools remain open at all costs".
It said in a statement on the school's website: "We are very aware of the terrible inconvenience this places on parents and pupils and ask for your understanding in what has been an extremely stressful, anxious and unfortunate situation for all of our pupils and their families, for staff and their families and the wider school community and in our attempt to support and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of our pupils, their families, the teaching staff and their families and the wider school community."
The Board added that "we hope you realise and understand that we tried our absolute best to keep COVID out of our school and to promote, enforce and encourage the COVID-19 plan in the school".
"We believe these exceptional closures are necessary.
It said that remote learning will be maintained for students and that if the school is required to make up the missed days, this will be used either in the lead up to Easter, the first week of May, or during the summer holidays.
