The Department of Education has urged schools to “err on the side of caution” when deciding whether to close as Status Orange and Yellow rain warnings affect 11 counties with flooding risks
Heavy rain in Dublin City Centre (file photo)(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
Torrential downpours and flood alerts have kicked in across 11 counties, with the Department of Education advising schools to “err on the side of caution” when weighing up closure decisions.
Met Éireann has put a Status Orange rain warning in place – the second most serious tier – for Dublin, Wicklow and Waterford lasting until Friday, while a Status Yellow alert affects Cavan, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wexford, Monaghan and Tipperary over the same time.
These alerts arrive as further rainfall is set to drench ground that’s already waterlogged, heightening the threat of spot flooding.
With parents concerned about the bad weather, schools have been reminded that the final decision to close lies with management, who should keep tabs on developments and, when uncertain, “err on the side of caution”.
In fresh guidance issued to schools, a Department of Education and Youth representative informed the Irish Mirror.: “The department will monitor the situation as it progresses and will follow any advice from the National Emergency Coordination Group.
“The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) is the Government’s forum for coordinating the response to an emergency, including a severe weather alert. The NECG comprises all government departments, including the Department of Education and Youth, all principal response agencies (PRAs), and certain other bodies. This department engages regularly with the NECG in regard to preparedness for severe weather events.
“The department in turn engages with schools and their management bodies regarding advice during and after such weather events, including:
“1. All schools should keep up to date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins, and particularly any change in the status warning for their area.
“2. The decision to close a school rests with the school management authority, taking into consideration the full guidance and direction available from the principal response agencies.
“3. In all events, and if in any doubt, schools should err on the side of caution. Schools are empowered to make closure decisions if, in their judgment, in the interests of the safety of the school community, it is prudent to do so.
“4. Primary and post-primary schools in areas affected by a weather warning should remain vigilant and keep themselves apprised of any hourly and other updates from Met Eireann, and from their local authorities, local radio, and the principal response agencies.
“5. The ‘Be Winter Ready’ website includes advice for schools on dealing with issues related to weather conditions, including colour-coded warnings and health and safety and direct links to relevant circulars.
“6. The department will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses and will follow any advice from the National Emergency Coordination Group. “
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has called on the public to keep a close eye on its forecasts as “conditions may change quickly”.
A notice on Met.ie reads: “Rainfall warnings have been issued for Thursday 5th and Friday 6th of February for southeastern, eastern and some northeastern areas. Status orange rainfall warnings have been issued for Waterford and Wicklow, while status yellow rainfall warnings have been issued for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wexford, Monaghan and Tipperary.
“After last week’s heavy rainfall, many rivers remain close to or above bank-full, with saturated ground conditions leaving catchments highly sensitive to any additional rainfall. While most rivers have now peaked or stabilised – and some have begun to recede – further rainfall on yesterday and overnight along the south and east coasts has caused slight rises in river levels in these areas.
“Given current river and ground conditions, even moderate rainfall could trigger further localised flooding, particularly in fast-responding catchments and downstream of the Wicklow Mountains – including in counties in the Southeast, Kildare and Dublin.”
