DEC monitoring weather and travel conditions

Thu, 12 Jan 2017

The Department of Education and Children says it will be keeping in touch with the Met Office, emergency services, roads authority and transport division throughout the cold weather.

The Department says it would never take the decision to close the schools lightly, but that ensuring pupils and staff's safety is a top priority.

Should schools be forced to close during the day, the DEC says parents shouldn't panic, as their kids will be kept warm and looked after until they can be safely collected.

The final decision to close schools during adverse weather rests with the Minister.