A spokesperson for the Department of Education says widespread school closures are expected - from the 7th of November.

It comes as the ASTI says Thursday's strikes are still very much on the cards - after they failed to reach agreement in talks yesterday with with the Department of Education.

Both sides are due to meet again today, to discuss Junior Cert Cycle reforms, while talks aimed at resolving the industrial dispute over pay for new teachers are set to resume tomorrow.

However, the union says there's still a way to go in their row over pay equality for newly-qualified teachers.

 Mayo Fianna Fail TD Dara Calleary says it’s regrettable that schools are facing closure on a number of days between now and Christmas….