A second-level teachers' union wants schools to close early for Christmas.
The Teachers Union of Ireland says classes should finish on Friday December 18th, rather than December 22nd, so students and teachers can restrict their movements before meeting vulnerable relatives.
Education Minister Norma Foley has already ruled out any extended Christmas break.
But TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie says it would boost morale.
"Teachers are fatigued, tired and so are students - they're in school every day wearing masks.
"The second and most important reason that people are looking for it is they're telling us that Christmas is a family time, they want to meet their grandparents.
"And the idea being that if they finish on the Friday, they gain the Saturday and the Sunday in terms of self-isolating."
