Ireland is finally set to ease some of the severe Level Five restrictions we have been living under for the entirety of 2021.
The changes will be gradual at first as health officials urged caution to avoid a fourth wave.
However there is at last some hope that brighter days are ahead, as Taoiseach Micheal Martin last night set out a roadmap for the next few months.
The first changes will come into force from April 12, with schools fully reopening and restrictions on outdoor meetings and travel limits both being eased.
Further relaxations are guaranteed on April 19, before another raft of new measures expected on April 26, including the reopening of zoos and outdoor attractions- as long as cases remain stable.
And there is some more hope on the horizon as a rough guideline for May 4 will see personal services and non-essential retail come under consideration.
Here is a full week-by-week breakdown of the changes we can expect in April:
From 12 April
| Activity | Guidance |
| Schools | In-school teaching to fully return |
| Meeting other households | You can meet 1 other household outside but not in your garden or theirs |
| Travel | You can travel within your county or within 20km of your home if crossing county boundaries |
| Construction | All residential construction can restart as well as early-learning and childcare projects |
From 19 April
| Activity | Guidance |
| GAA | Training for and playing of National Governing Body sanctioned and organised adult inter-county National Gaelic Games Leagues not including under 20 or minor competitions |
| Elite sport | High performing athletes, as approved by Sport Ireland, can resume |
From 26 April (subject to prevailing public health situation)
| Activity | Guidance |
| Outdoor sport | Outdoor sports facilities can reopen (for example: pitches, golf courses and tennis courts, other facilities as appropriate) |
| Outdoor attractions | Outdoor visitor attractions can reopen (for example: zoos, open pet farms, heritage sites). Amusement parks are not permitted to open |
| Underage sport | Underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 or fewer can restart |
| Funerals | Maximum attendance at funerals will increase to 25 |
Under consideration from 4 May (subject to prevailing public health situation)
| Activity |
| Full reopening of construction activity |
| Phased return of non-essential retail commencing with click and collect and outdoor retail, for example: garden centres/nurseries |
| Recommencement of personal services on a staggered basis |
| Reopening of museums, galleries and libraries |
| Recommencement of religious services on a staggered basis |
