Dear Secretary,

Please see below the contents of a Press Release which has just been issued by the Department in relation to Storm Barra

Statement on Storm Barra

A Red Alert has now been issued by Met Éireann relating to severe wind for counties Clare, Kerry and Cork.

A status orange warning has issued for counties Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo, Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, Meath.

Met Éireann has advised that there is a strong possibility that the status of parts of these counties currently in status orange are likely to change and escalate to status red.

Due to the significant nature of Storm Barra, as forecast by Met Éireann and to give sufficient notice to schools and parents/guardians, the Department is advising that all schools covered by the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann should not open tomorrow, 7 December. 

All schools should keep up-to-date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins and in particular any change in the status warning for their area.

 ___________________________________________________________________
Tá foláireamh dearg maidir le gustaí gaoithe láidre i gContae an Chláir, i gContae Chiarraí agus i gContae Chorcaí eisithe anois ag Met Éireann.

Tá foláireamh oráiste eisithe do na contaetha seo a leanas; Luimneach, Port Láirge, Gaillimh, Maigh Eo, Loch Garman, Baile Átha Cliath, An Lú, Cill Mhantáin, an Mhí. 

Tá sé molta ag Met Éireann go bhfuil seans maith ann go n-athróidh an foláireamh oráiste atá ag cuid de na contaetha seo go foláireamh dearg.

De bharr láidreacht na stoirme Barra, mar atá tuartha ag Met Éireann, agus le réamhfhógra leordhóthanach a thabhairt do scoileanna agus do thuismitheoirí/caomhnóirí, tá sé molta ag an Roinn Oideachais nár chóir d’aon scoil, atá clúdaithe ag foláireamh dearg nó ag foláireamh oráiste ó Met Éireann, a oscailt amárach an 7ú Nollaig, ar mhaithe sláinte an phobail scoile. 

Ní mór do scoileanna a choinneáil ar an eolas faoi rabhaidh aimsire reatha atá ar fáil ar gach feasachán nuachta áitiúil agus náisiúnta, agus aon athrú ar an stádas a bhaineann lena gceantar féin ach go háirithe. 

John Irwin, General Secretary, ACCS