It's part of Ireland's third Covid-19 lockdown
The change does not affect creches and childcare facilities.
The Government had been determined to keep schools open come what may... but decided to keep them closed for a short period longer in the hope that Covid case numbers will have reduced by the time they get back.
Welcoming the announcement President of secondary teachers union, the ASTI, Ann Piggot said young people could be more easily infected by the new strain of the virus:
