From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have this evening issued the following notice to all Early Learning and Care and School-age Childcare service providers regarding Storm Barra:
Dear provider,
As you will be aware, Pobal published a notice on PIP and the Hive today advising services impacted by Storm Barra that they could close their service and receive funding under Force Majeure.
We are now writing to update you on the situation with Storm Barra. A Red Alert has 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 early learning and care and school age childcare services and parents/guardians, the department is advising that all early learning and care and school-age childcare services covered by the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann should not open tomorrow on 7 December.
All services 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.
Services which close due to Storm Barra will receive Force Majeure funding.
For further information on Storm Barra, see gov.ie/stormbarra