LAST UPDATE | 29 Apr 2021
THE INTER-COUNTY TRAVEL ban is to be lifted on 10 May under plans agreed by the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 last night.
On the same date, hairdressers, barbers and salons are due to reopen, as is click and collect shopping.
Places of worship are all set for good news, with 50 attendees permitted at normal services, as well as funerals and weddings.
However, six people can only attend the wedding reception indoors or 15 outdoors. This will increase to 25 in June.
Three households can also meet up outside from 10 May. House viewings in person will also resume on this date, as will driving tests.
Full retail will resume on 17 May. Full construction work will open earlier than most industries on 4 May, having been partially reopened in recent weeks.
The Journal has learned that among the major changes, is the reopening of outdoor dining and beer gardens on 7 June, after the bank holiday weekend.
This is contrary to rumours circulating about a reopening of such on 24 May.
There will be no distinction between restaurants, pubs or other food outlets and the €9 meal measure will not return.
There is no fixed date for indoor dining, but it is set to be some time in July.
Hotels and B&Bs can reopen on 2 June and will be permitted to serve residents indoors it is understood.
Gyms and swimming pools will reopen their doors on 7 June, but will not be permitted to hold classes – it will be individual training only.
On that day too sports matches will resume but no crowds will be allowed to attend.
The number of vaccinated households allowed to meet will increase from two to three on 10 May, meanwhile, one vaccinated household can meet a non-vaccinated household indoors.
This is to allow grandparents to visit their grandchildren, it is believed.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told Newstalk Breakfast that the emphasis on re-opening in May would largely be based on outdoor settings and was “not everything at the same time”.
However, he also urged caution in the weeks ahead as restrictions are eased.
“I think people still need to be careful though, let’s not forget we’re still somewhere between four and six hundred people every day getting Covid and testing positive,” he said.
“People are still dying every day, so we are not out of the woods yet.”
Yesterday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said “there are a few nice things in there” when asked if there would be any surprises from the Cabinet Covid subcommittee meeting.
Eamon Ryan says there are a couple of things that people might not have expected but the plan is broadly in line with what had been predicted. pic.twitter.com/vKTbYlDHSS
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) April 28, 2021
Following the meeting at Government Buildings, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that Cabinet will not depart from NPHET’s advice on easing restrictions.
He said that he did not want to talk about specific details of easing restrictions as the full Cabinet needed to sign off on the measures this afternoon.
He said it was still wise to be cautious, and to keep vaccination numbers up and infection numbers down.
Ryan said that there may be “a couple of things that people hadn’t expected” when it comes to easing restrictions, but that the plan is broadly in line with what had been predicted.
Senior sources state that while case numbers are still relatively high, the numbers in hospital and ICU continue to fall.
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