MOST RETAILERS WILL be allowed to open their doors from Monday.

Shopping centres will also be able to open from 15 June.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that retailers, regardless of size, will be able to lift the shutters on Monday but opening times will be staggered to relieve pressure on public transport. 

Shops will also provide dedicated hours for those who are over 70 or in an at-risk group. 

The government is encouraging people to shop locally, shop safely and support businesses in their community.

At a press conference at Government Buildings this afternoon, the Taoiseach said, “It is important that the return to retail does not create crowding on public transport or interfere with essential workers getting to work”

“Therefore, shops reopening – the ones not already open – will be required to operate staggered hours, opening no earlier than 10:30 am and allocating dedicated time at the start for elderly, vulnerable and at-risk groups.” 

Shopping centres will be able to open from 15 June, provided “measures are taken to ensure people do not congregate at benches, fountains or food courts for example”, the Taoiseach said. 

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Business Minister Heather Humphreys warned that consumers should get ready to queue and that “leisurely browsing” in shops would have to be replaced by “purposeful shopping”.

All businesses that are reopening will have to comply with the government’s mandatory return-to-work health and safety protocols and ensure strict adherence to social distancing rules. 

The Taoiseach reiterated that anyone who can work from home should do so for the time being.

Separately, the pandemic unemployment payment has also been extended into August, but it will be a two-tier payment from 29 June, Humphreys said.