"We were left floundering around" - school principals hits out at Dept of Education over late notice for #Ophelia storm school closures

Oct 16, 2017, 08:30 AM

Hurricane Ophelia is a storm set to hit Northern Ireland today with winds forecast up to 80mph. There are two functions for us today on the Nolan Show. Firstly, as a public service broadcaster , to give you all as much information as we know. And we are going to do that in just a second. Secondly, obviously we are opening up the lines today to hear how you feel about all this. Parents were not told by the Department of Education until 1030pm last night that all schools should close. Parents had to then scramble - part of them probably still scrambling - to find child care. Why did the Department leave it so late? Stephen spoke to Kevin Donaghy, principal of St Ronan's Primary School in Newry and Karen McMaster, principal of Camphill Primary School in Ballymena.