Childcare providers are warning the decision to allow asymptomatic children who are close contacts remain in creches will result in increased closures this winter.
Yesterday it was announced under 12s who attend primary schools or childcare facilities and have no symptoms won't have to restrict movements from Monday.
The Chief Medical Officer says, given the importance of education, now is the right time to make the change as the data shows the facilities are low risk.
There were 90 new outbreaks in schools last week - up 50 on the previous week, while the number in childcare facilities fell from 22 to nine over the same period.
Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, Elaine Dunne, says they're "shocked" and "disappointed" at the decision.
"I think it's going to spread very, very quickly through the services.
"We are the ones who opened last June to look after frontline and essential workers.
"And here we are, we're going to be forced to close our doors, and that's going to happen quite quickly because of the way it will spread quite quickly through the services."
