Several colleges and universities across Dublin have suspended all on-campus activities for the remainder of the current semester.
While a decision has not been made on all colleges in the capital, the Education Minister Joe McHugh has confirmed that they will not be re-opening on the preliminary date of March 29.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM today, he said that an announcement will be made either later today or by Wednesday on extending the closures across Ireland.
There have been 1,125 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and six deaths from the virus, in Ireland so far. That number is expected to rise significantly in the coming weeks as testing continues.
Dublin City University has already told students that the campus will not be able to return to "normal" before the end of the academic year.
As a result, DCU had said that all teaching, assessment and examinations will be carried out online.
Trinity College has confirmed that 10 people who use its campus have tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, it asked everyone staying in student accommodation to leave the campus and return home.
Teaching has moved online, and Spring commencements on April 7-9 will not be held in public, but rather online on a live stream with no crowd in attendance.
TU Dublin has confirmed to students that the usual method of examination and assessment will not be taking place this academic year, even if activities resume across its campuses.
Further details are expected to be released on April 6.
University College Dublin has said it is currently "making arrangements to deliver courses at-distance and provide alternatives to traditional examinations".
Dublin Live understands that students in the Marino Institute of Education have been told that the campus will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year.
Students have been told that all teaching will move online for the remainder of the semester, and examinations are to be replaced by alternative assessments.
Meanwhile Griffith College on South Circular Road has suspended all on-campus classes until the end of semester on May 1, 2020, and examinations will be carried out via remote access and online.
Other colleges such as the National College of Ireland and Dublin Business School are now carrying out classes and assessments online.
