Ireland is "on track" to ease the next set of lockdown restrictions, the Taoiseach has confirmed.
The country is due to move into Phase Two of the Government's roadmap for reopening society on June 8.
Leo Varadkar said he has been reassured by seeing Ireland's coronavirus figures going in the "right direction".
However, he said it will take two weeks to know if the first phase of lifting restrictions on May 18 will impact those numbers.
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Mr Varadkar said: "It takes at least two weeks to know if the actions to ease restrictions are having an effect, it will be next week before we can determine whether we can move to Phase Two."
It comes as the Fine Gael leader confirmed schools will return in August.
But he said it does not mean every student will be able to attend school for the full day.
He said: "Provided the virus does not make a comeback between now and then, primary and secondary schools will reopen at the end of August.
"It may not be possible for every student to return for the full day, every day, but that is the point we are trying to get to, so it may be necessary to phase in the reopening of schools, but our objective is to open them as fully and as soon as possible provided the virus does not make a comeback."
