It follows an alert from the National Poisons Information Centre.
A Westmeath school is advising parents of junior children NOT to pack hand sanitiser in school bags.
It follows an alert from the National Poisons Information Centre which likened it to sending kids to school with "a naggin of vodka".
Principals have been given budgets to stock up on sanitiser and promote hand washing.
Matt Melvin is in charge at St Etchen's in Kinnegad:
Some students are back in school today after an almost six months absence because of Covid 19.
Primary school children don’t have to wear face masks but secondary school students do, if social distancing isn’t possible.
School transport will run at normal capacity for primary school students but at 50 percent for secondary level.
The classroom will also look different with spaced out desks.
New health guidance says a child can go to school if they’ve sniffles and the odd sneezing.
However they should stay away if they have a temperature, a cough, shortness of breath or a change in their sense of taste or smell.
They also shouldn’t go to school if they’ve been in close contact with someone who has Covid 19 or if they have it themselves.
Ann Piggott, from teaching union, the ASTI, says they're worried about their teachers getting the virus:
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