TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has announced plans to ease the strict Covid-19 measures – but it will be very much a cautious approach.
Level 5 restrictions will be in place for another two weeks with an exit plan beginning on April 12.
The 5km travel limit for exercise will be removed on that date, although people will still be restricted to travel within their own county. It is not expected that inter-county travel will be permitted until July.
Two households will be able to meet outdoors – but not in each other’s gardens. Government guidance says that outdoor meetings should be in adherence with social distancing measures.
Two fully vaccinated people may now meet indoors – provided two weeks have passed since the administering of the second dose of the vaccine.
Construction will resume from April 12 enabling 14,000 workers to get back on sites, while high performance and inter-county GAA training can return from April 19, with a view to the Allianz League starting in May.
From April 26, outdoor sport training will be back while golf and tennis will be back in play on that date, with outdoor amenities also reopening.
Also from April 26, attendance at funerals can increase from 10 to 25.
Mr Martin said that the county was ‘on the final stretch of this terrible journey’.
“This summer our businesses and our public services will safely reopen,” he said.
“We will finally be meeting and enjoying the company of friends and family once again.
“We will be able to travel within and enjoy our beautiful country again. Jobs and livelihoods will be restored. And most importantly the worst of this awful pandemic will be behind us.”