The green list of countries Irish people can travel to and from without self-isolating won't be reviewed earlier than planned, it has emerged.
Concerns have been raised following a surge in cases in Malta - which is one of 15 countries on the list.
The infection rate over the past 14 days at the popular tourist destination has risen to 6.9 people per 100,000 of the population, which is above Ireland's rate of 5.3.
The list of countries is to be reviewed every two weeks and is due to be changed next on August 4 after being released on July 21.
And the Department of the Taoiseach said it's "unlikely" it will be altered before then despite the rise and fall in cases in some countries.
Spokeswoman Liz Canavan said: "We have been looking at it at a national level, that’s the most reliable, and once someone enters a country, we don’t really know where they go, so we’re operating on the national data."
She added that the criteria being applied when deciding which countries are safe to travel to includes "the national 14-day incidence rate, the trajectory, and other aspects of testing and tracing".
The Department of Foreign Affairs still advises against all non-essential overseas travel on the recommendation of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
A spokesman said: "In accordance with Government policy, which is based on official public health advice, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to advise against non-essential travel overseas.
"This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all travel by cruise ship.
"However, as of 21 July, travel to a very limited set of locations is exempted from this advice.
"The security status for those locations to which non-essential travel can resume has been changed to ‘normal precautions’ (“green”) rating.
"Individuals arriving in Ireland from these locations will not be required to restrict their movements on arrival."
The countries currently on the green list are:
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- Finland
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Norway
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Slovakia
