Cianan Brennan: Was it really necessary to shut schools for two days?

We're led to believe that the closing of schools in the past two days was on foot of safety concerns due to Storm Barra. Cianan Brennan thinks there was a different reason for schools closing on the second day

Day two of Storm Barra at Sandycove in Dublin. The second day of school closures feels a bit more problematic. Photo: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Just before 10pm on Tuesday, the Departments of Education and Children served up something of an unwanted surprise for parents in the capital.

Storm Barra, the windy tour de force which had already wreaked havoc on the west and south-west coasts, had been raised to category Orange level by Met Éireann in Dublin once more, meaning schools and childcare services across the city would remain shut for an additional day.