Gardai will have a major presence with their roads policing units in the Dublin area this Easter weekend in a bid to clamp down on non essential travel.
It is feared people in the capital - where most of Ireland's coronavirus cases are - may ignore the Government's 2km travel limit and head to the countryside this bank holiday weekend.
But gardai have plans in place to ensure the new rules are followed, with a major checkpoint operation being carried out over the next few days.
A source told the Irish Mirror: "Gardai will be making full sure nobody is leaving Dublin for non essential travel purposes.
"Uniform gardai will be sent out to several locations this week to enforce the new garda powers brought in on Wednesday morning."
The checkpoints will be set up as part of Operation Fanacht - which started at 11am on Wednesday, and it will run until late on Saturday night.
Gardai will not wear any masks or suits on advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
However, officers have been drilled on health and safety measures and are to be given other forms of personal protective equipment such as gloves.
Gardai were also informed by the HSE that breath tests can still be carried out at checkpoints.
And anyone arrested during the operation will be transferred in the back of a garda van to limit the potential spread of any virus.
All roads policing units in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, along with the garda air support, will be made available.
Where will the checkpoints be?
Between now and Saturday night, gardai are expected to be stationed at all of the major motorways out of Dublin.
This is set to include all roads the main routes to the south, north and west.
And checkpoints will be staged on roads heading north-west and south west, on roads towards Co Meath, Co Kildare and Co Wicklow.
More than 600 checkpoints will be manned by gardaí across the country to persuade the public not to travel outside the 2km restriction zone
What are the current lockdown measures?
The official government lockdown orders are that you should stay at home in all circumstances, except for the following:
- to travel to and from work where the work is considered an essential service.
- working in an essential shop, bank or post office.
- to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products for yourself, your family or someone who is vulnerable or 'cocooning'
- for vital family reasons including caring for children, elderly or vulnerable people but excluding social family visits
- to exercise within 2 kilometres of your house. You cannot exercise with people from outside your household
What are the new garda powers?
Penalties for failing to comply to the lockdown measures include fines of up to €2,500 and up to six months in prison.
There will be a nationwide policing operation including a large number of checkpoints, as well as patrols at important locations including parks and landmarks.
What are the current travel restrictions?
The travel restrictions are as follows:
- there will be a nationwide restriction on travel outside of 2 kilometres from your home, except for the restrictions listed above
- public transport and passenger travel will be restricted to those who are buying food or medicines, carers, going to medical appointments and essential workers
- travel to Ireland's offshore islands is limited only to residents of those islands
- local authorities will relax on-street parking laws to meet the travel needs of essential workers
- the arrival of personal non-national maritime leisure vessels is banned (except to exceptions as 'port in a storm')
