As Ophelia continues to batter the country, it has been confirmed that schools and colleges will remain closed on Tuesday.

"This decision has been made following discussions with members of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and in light of the advice from Met Éireann on this unprecedented storm", the Department Of Education And Skills said in a statement. The National Emergency Coordination Group has also instructed creches and Montessori facilities to close. https://twitter.com/RichardbrutonTD/status/919937236937961472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.her.ie%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D370115%26action%3Dedit In a statement, Education Minister Richard Bruton acknowledged the major impact the decision will have on families and on the workforce but said that it was taken with the interests of children in mind and to provide schools with the opportunity to assess the damage caused during the storm on Monday. https://twitter.com/RichardbrutonTD/status/919937709468209152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.her.ie%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D370115%26action%3Dedit He added: "While it is recognised that some schools may not be as badly impacted as others, the information available at this time indicates that over 350,000 businesses and homes already without power, severe winds continue to cause damage across the country as the storm progresses." On Sunday, an earlier statement had confirmed: "In response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department Of Education And Skills is now publicly informing all schools, colleges and other education institutions that they are to remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October." Some schools have weathered considerable damage - damage which will now have to be accessed before students can return to their classrooms.