The Government has scrapped plans for Leaving Cert students to attend classes three days a week.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced a raft of new lockdown measures on Wednesday, which included the closure of all schools for at least the month of January.
But final year students sitting State exams in the summer would still be allowed to attend classes in person.
The move was met with major backlash, with teacher's union ASTI earlier urging its members "not to co-operate" with the plan.
The union said it wasn't consulted before the announcement, and that it hasn't been given assurances that schools are safe for staff and students.
Sources told the Irish Mirror that the government is set to make the announcement shortly.
ASTI President Ann Piggott earlier said: “The ASTI has repeatedly sought sufficient assurances that schools are safe for students and teachers at this time, in the context of the new variant of Covid-19 circulating in the community and the alarmingly high numbers.
“We engaged with the Department of Education and with public health officials today. Unfortunately, the assurances we sought have not been forthcoming.”
