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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Cormac O'Shea & Ferghal Blaney

Ireland lockdown travel rules: First indication as to when inter-county travel could return

Inter-county travel could return in June after the Taoiseach pledged to try reopen hotels, guesthouses and Airbnb's that very month.

The Government eased travel restrictions earlier in April after the country was under a strict 5km rule since the beginning of the year.

However, no massive indications have been given as to when travel to other counties would be allowed again.

But speaking at the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting, Mr Martin promised that hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses, self-catering accommodation - such as AirBnBs - and mobile homes would be reopening in June, which would facilitate staycations from then.

Gardai operate a Covid-19 checkpoint this evening outside the Department of Health on Baggot Street. (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

It is understood that June 10 is an optimistic date from which some ministers would like to see these reopenings happen.

The return of inter-county travel to allow staycations is likely to be in line with that.

Speaking in his last national address, the Taoiseach did say: "Towards the end of May, and depending on progress, we will look at the reopening of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses in the month of June.

"We are on the final stretch of this terrible journey. This summer, our businesses and our public services will safely reopen.

"We will finally be meeting and enjoying the company of friends and family once again.

"We will be able to travel within and enjoy our beautiful country again. Jobs and livelihoods will be restored."

That would suggest that the Government's view at the moment is for all domestic travel to be allowed by the end of June.

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