Labour leader Alan Kelly has claimed Taoiseach Micheal Martin told him that teachers will be "exempt" from a new five-day 'stay at home' rule for those living with people who have tested positive for Covid-19.
However, the Government has denied this is the case.
The household contacts rule is part of a raft of measures being introduced today to stop the rampant spread of coronavirus in Ireland.
Anyone in a home with someone who has Covid-19 will have to restrict their movements for five days and take three antigen tests.
But teachers will be allowed to skirt the 'stay at home' rule - according to Alan Kelly.
The Labour chief told RTE that Taoiseach Micheal Martin gave him this information as they left the Dail chamber following leaders' questions this afternoon.
Mr Kelly said he approached the Fianna Fail leader to say that requiring teachers to restrict their movements would add to staff shortages and could mean closing some schools.
He says the Taoiseach then told him: "No, teachers are exempt."
But Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath told Today FM that teachers are not exempt from the rule.
The development has added some confusion around Mr Martin's announcement after he made a speech addressing the nation this evening on the plan to tackle the spread of the virus.
Cabinet agreed on a number of measures and senior sources have indicated to the Mirror it’s likely more restrictions may be needed in the coming weeks.
Here is everything that has been confirmed:
Pubs, restaurants and nightclubs will have a new closing time of midnight from Thursday
People will have to restrict their movements for five days if they are a household contact and will have to take three antigen tests in a new policy change
People will be told to work from home, which NPHET has recommended
Vaccine passes will NOT be required for access to hairdressers, barbers or gyms but they will be used for access to theatres and cinemas
Strict rules around mask wearing for indoor and outdoor settings
Antigen tests will be made more affordable for the people - this has to be worked on for a number of days
NIAC, the State’s vaccine advisory body, has given the go-ahead for booster jabs for people aged in their 50s and for people aged under 50 with underlying health conditions
NPHET has warned the Government that an optimistic scenario would see 5,000 cases a day at the peak and the pessimistic scenario could see 12,000 cases a day if there is not a break in the transmission of the disease.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan also warned that between 400-500 people could end up in ICU in the worst-case scenario.
NPHET believes the peak of the virus, the large wave of infection, will not come until the end of November or into early December.
