The head of the INTO says changes to testing and tracing for primary schools is removing the safety net for them.
It comes as automatic close contact tracing in childcare facilities and primary schools is to be discontinued from Monday September 27th.
John Boyle says they can't understand why this happened.
"We're absolutely flabbergasted at this hasty decision - basically Government has decided to remove the safety net from primary schools after less than four weeks of the school year.
"In those four weeks, the public health people that we deal with on a weekly basis have told us that infection levels are much higher in primary schools than usual.
"They've admitted that the HSE's ineptitude has caused us not to have proper data.
"And the minister then has the cheek, Minister Donnelly, to say that the latest data indicates that schools continue to be a low-risk environment".
And he says figures from the HSE have been unclear.
"The data that was provided yesterday by the HSE said that in the last two weeks there were over 4,000 children of primary school age [who] tested positive.
"But then another wing of the HSE produced a report today showing in three weeks so far in the schools, that there were only 750 cases after mass testing in schools.
"That's because there's no joined up thinking within the HSE this year - whatever supports were there for schools last year have been stripped out.
"And this is a further measure now today that we felt should not be even entertained until after mid-term break".
