By Seán Defoe
The government has announced the roadmap out of some restrictions over the next month.
The first measures will be eased on April 12th with residential construction and travel within counties or within 20km of county boundaries allowed.
The following phased easing of restrictions will begin on 12 April and continue through the month:
- Full return to in-school teaching.
- Two households can meet up with one another outdoors for social and recreational purposes (this does not include private gardens). Any meetings outdoors should be safe with continued practicing of social distancing and other safe behaviours. Masks should be worn in crowded outdoor spaces.
- Travel restrictions will be relaxed to enable travel within own county or within 20km of residence if crossing county boundaries.
- Construction: All residential construction projects can recommence.
- Early Learning and Childcare and school aged childcare services will be added to list of essential services for construction activity during these restrictions to align with the current exemption to primary and secondary schools (where school building projects are progressing) and to allow important fire safety works to progress.
From 19 April, the expansion of elite sports will include:
- training for and playing of National Governing Body sanctioned and organised adult intercounty National Gaelic Games Leagues, not including under 20 or minor competitions.
- certain high performing athletes as approved by Sport Ireland, in a range of sports.
Later in the month, from April 26th:
- People will be able to play golf and tennis
- Underage sports training can resume outdoors
- Outdoor visitor attractions can reopen such as zoos, open pet farms, heritage sites.
- Attendance at funerals to increase to 25
While from May the 4th, personal services like hairdressers and non-essential retail will resume on a staggered basis, as well as:
- Full re-opening of construction activity.
- Phased return of non-essential retail commencing with click and collect and outdoor retail i.e. garden centres/nurseries.
- Recommencement of Personal Services on a staggered basis.
- Re-opening of Museums, Galleries & Libraries
- Recommencement of religious services on a staggered basis
In his address to the nation, an Taoiseach Micheál Martin said people will be able to enjoy much greater freedoms this summer.
"We can, and we should take time this Easter to look forward with hope. In less than two weeks now all of our children will be back at school, in 4 weeks many of our outdoor sporting facilities will be open again, in over 7 weeks everyone over the age of 70 will be vaccinated.
"We are on the final stretch of this terrible journey," he concluded
