There have been 11 new deaths from Covid-19 recorded and 366 additional cases.
According to the Department of Health, the 11 deaths reported today all occurred in November.
17 of today's cases are in Waterford, and the 14-day incidence rate in the county is 162.7.
Waterford still has the fourth-highest incidence rate in the country.
The total number of cases in the Republic now stands at 68,686 and there have been 1,995 Covid-related deaths.
Earlier today, a leading health expert cautioned against making any Covid-19 vaccine mandatory in Ireland.
Professor of Health Systems at DCU, Anthony Staines has said requiring people to be vaccinated may provoke those against the move.
His comments come after the British health Secretary refused to rule out the possibility of making it compulsory for people to get the vaccine in the UK.
"There is a small cohort of anti-vax people in our society, I think they are wrong in their belief, but they would use this as a reason to go on the warpath."
Christmas holidays
Also today, Minister for Education Norma Foley said there are no plans to extend the Christmas holidays for schools.
Ms Foley was asked if closing schools on December 18th instead of December 22nd as planned was an option to allow families more time safely visit loved ones while schools are closed.
Ms Foley said no extension to the holidays were planned at this time as children had already missed out on enough classes due to the pandemic.
In the North, there were 549 new cases of the virus and nine additional deaths reported in the past 24 hours.
