Record low attendance and significant staff shortages on first day back at school 

Teacher Aisha Heffernan with young students Maisy O’Donnell and Sophie Galvin in Scoil Cliodhna Community National School in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork.

Principals reported record low student attendances as well as significant staff shortages on the first day back at school today.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO)  said it was an “incredibly difficult first day back”, with many pupils and staff members restricting movement due to contracting the virus or being close contacts.