Primary school principals have said they expect a strong level of compliance with new mask-wearing measures among children from third class upwards.
In Cork, one principal has told RTÉ News that, while he will be encouraging his pupils to wear masks, he will not be excluding those who don't wear face coverings from school.
Like most primary schools, there was a level of understandable chaos in the corridors of Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in Ballincollig today.
The school was founded with just 17 pupils by Gabriel Ó Cathasaigh in 1983. Today, it is one of the biggest gaelscoileanna in the country, with 760 boys and girls on its rollbooks.