Schools will reopen on Thursday, department confirms

ASTI call comes as ministers concede privately that Nphet advice on close contacts is 'disproportionate and unfeasible'

Minister for Education Norma Foley Foley said a combination of factors including the vaccine rollout and the lower hospital numbers mean the country is in a different space to last year. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The Department of Education has confirmed that schools will reopen this Thursday as planned.

The decision was reached following meetings between the Minister for Education Norma Foley, representatives from public health, the HSE and education stakeholders.