A primary school with around 400 students and staff in Co Kildare has told parents it is to close temporarily because of safety concerns.
In a message to parents, St Patrick's National School in Celbridge, said the decision had been made following a series of recent external fire safety and building compliance reviews.
The message from Board of Management said that it was closing the school in the interest of the safety, health and welfare of pupils and staff.
"Independent assessments identified a number of fire safety and building compliance matters which require urgent attention.
"While there has been no specific incident giving rise to this decision, the Board consider it both prudent and responsible to pause occupation of the building in order to implement priority works and ensure full statutory compliance".
It said the closure will allow for priority fire safety measures to be immediately implemented and to further verify structural and building compliance matters.
The school is currently situated on GAA owned lands which are leased by the school through the Department of Education.
It has been in temporary buildings since 2007 and another building to house the school is still going through the planning process.
In a statement, the Department of Education and Youth said it is aware of issues highlighted by St Patrick's National School and in recent weeks, has engaged project managers and contractors to address structural defects.
At present, the department said roofing contractors are on site carrying out significant works to the school roof.
"The school has been provided with written programme updates, including delivery timelines for specific works. The most recent was sent to the school last Friday (27 February)."
"This programme outlined a number of actions which are planned, including use of the two modular units to facilitate the temporary decanting of classes to allow upgrades of classrooms to take place."
It added that work will continue in the days and weeks ahead, including during the mid-term and Easter break.
"The department is satisfied that the methodology provided to the school addresses all the issues which have been raised by the school, including issues raised with regards to life safety systems and fire safety measures."
The department said it has made contact with the patron and the school authority today, and arrangements have been made to meet with them tomorrow to ensure the school reopens as soon as possible.
Parents have reacted with both shock and relief at the news of the closure.
Watch: Parents react to closing of Celbridge primary school
Áine Tobin, who had a daughter in first class, said while that parents are trying to figure out how to deal with the consequences of the closure, many believe it is a "good thing" that children do not have to attend school in a building with safety issues.
She said that it was a shock that the move happened so quickly today, and that it is currently unclear how long the issue will continue for.
"In some ways, we're relieved that our children are safe and that their teachers are safe. But now, I guess it's the kind of reality of finding out about having to go to homeschooling," she added.
Over the past week, many parents had voiced their concerns about the state of the building after safety audits of the school came to light.
She said children were sent home today with all of their books and a number of worksheets.
It was her understanding that parents will be asked to home school their children while the work in under way.
Treasa Keegan, whose son Eddie is in junior infants said most people do not have backup solutions for a school closing with no notice.
"You can imagine that people are going to be calling their managers trying to get time off. People who work that can't work from home, for example, are now not able to get into the office tomorrow. There's all sorts of complications around it.
"There's also the issue, I have to say, and it's relevant to my family with my son, that where a child has a SNA and has needs that are met by extra support, that is not something that can be done.
"We can't provide education like a professional teacher can provide with an SNA there for support."
A meeting for parents is due to take place tomorrow evening.
Social Democrats TD for Kildare North Aidan Farrelly called for clarity from the Board of Management and the Department of Education about what happens next.
"Right now, the teachers, parents are trying to digest the news that from next week, their school is closed," he said.
"That's simply unacceptable. What we tried to do here last week, all constituency TDs, was raise the issue that the the department found out about the issues in the school last year, but nothing has happened.
"We've asked the Minister for Education today, what contingency plans are in place for these children?
"Home schooling, it's not an option. We need to see a black and white course of action for these children, for the teachers and parents.
"And also a commitment that a new school for St Patricks will be delivered, essentially, as soon as possible.
"We need to see clarity from the board, we need to see clarity from the department, we need to see clarity from the Minister for Education, today."
His constituency colleague, Fianna Fáil's Naoise Ó Cearúil, said the Department of Education needs to "urgently relocate unused modular classrooms from Mercy Convent Primary School in Naas to St Patrick's National School in Celbridge".
"What has happened today is completely unacceptable and an immediate solution needs to be found," he said in a statement.
"The Department of Education needs to stop sitting on their hands and act in the best interests of these children.
"The long-term plan for a permanent school must continue, but right now the priority is ensuring pupils and teachers have a safe place to learn and work," Mr Ó Cearúil said.
