The Tanaiste says schools could take extended Easter Holidays because of the coronavirus.
As it stands, there are currently no plans to close the schools because of the outbreak of COVID-19. The Department of Education says it's continuing to review the situation with public health officials on a daily basis.
The Department says its aware of the potential impact of school closures on parents families and the wider community and says any decisions will be based on the advice of experts.
Kieran Christie from the ASTI says they'll do what's advised:
"We are potentially looking at a very unprecedented situation".
"We'll all have to put our shoulder to the wheel to manage it as best we can in a context of unchartered territory".
The news comes as Trinity College has announced significant measures to restrict the spread of COVID-19. All lectures at the Dublin campus are to go online for the rest of the semester from tomorrow.
Effective immediately, a number of public spaces have shut including the Long Room, which contains the Book of Kells.
