Ministers will meet later to agree further actions to help businesses struggling in the coronavirus emergency.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there was a need to support companies to "restart, reconnect and rehire".
The Government has already rolled out a multi-billion euro package of assistance for employers and workers during the crisis.
Around 450,000 workers are receiving state payments through a temporary wage subsidy scheme, while around another 600,000 have applied for a special Covid-19 unemployment benefit.
The Government has also significantly expanded financial support for small and medium sized businesses.
Mr Varadkar announced the Cabinet meeting on Friday evening as he presented the Government's plan to gradually exit the coronavirus lockdown in five phases over the summer months.
"Getting people back to work and restarting businesses will not be easy," he said.
"I know that. It won't be possible for people to just pick up where they left off. Businesses are going to need help to get going again."
The current lockdown has been extended until May 18, at which point phase one of the "journey to a new normal" will commence.
Each stage is three weeks apart, but the country will only move from one to the other when medical experts confirm it is safe to do so.
The fifth phase is scheduled to commence on August 10 if everything goes to plan.
We will see two more weeks of tight restrictions to combat Covid-19, with two minor changes:
- Those cocooning will now be able to leave their home for exercise, as long as they don't come into contact with others, and
- The 2km limit for exercise has been extended to 5km.
From May 18, the country will begin reopening in a "slow and phased way."
From this point, the Taoiseach said face coverings will be advised in shops, on public transport and in other crowded places.
Beginning on May 18, things will look like this:
Phase 1 (May 18)
Allow outdoor meetings between people from different households
Open up childcare for healthcare workers
Phased return of outdoor workers
Open retailers which are primarily outdoor or those which were open during first level of restriction (e.g. opticians)
Opening of certain outdoor public amenities
Phase 2 (June 8)
Allow visits to households
Develop plans and supports to open up business with consideration for safety of staff and customers
Open small retail outlets and marts where social distancing can be observed
Open public libraries
Phase 3 (June 29)
Allow small social gatherings
Opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of essential workers in phased manner
Return to work for those with low levels of interaction
Open non-essential retail outlets with street level entrance and exit
Open playgrounds
Phase 4 (July 20)
Opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing basis
Return to work for those who cannot work from home
Gradual easing of restrictions for higher risk services (e.g. Hairdressers)
Opening of museums, galleries, places of worship
Phase 5 (August 10)
Allow larger social gatherings
Return to work across all sectors
On a phased basis, commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2020/2021, opening of primary and secondary schools and 3 level institutions
Further easing of restrictions on high risk retail services
As of Friday, there had been 20,833 confirmed cases of the disease in Ireland.
