Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
387. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the person or body that made the decision to close schools in County Meath due to a Met Éireann orange warning; the number of orange warnings that have been issued by Met Éireann in each of the past five years; and the number of times in the past the Minister for Education has closed schools on orange warnings. [61243/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to close schools in counties that were under Met Éireann Orange Alert was made by the Department of Education, following consultation with the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group and informed by the expert advice from Met Éireann of a strong possibility that the status of parts of counties under status Orange Alert were likely to change and escalate to status Red Alert. This decision was based on the very significant nature of Storm Barra, as forecast by Met Éireann, and the potential for significant damage. The colour coding system for weather was introduced by Met Éireann in 2012. Schools have closed for weather-related reasons on a number of occasions in the past, including for Storm Ophelia.
