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Taoiseach Micheal Martin dealt a devastating blow to any hopes the lockdown could be eased next month with his announcement tonight.
Fianna Fail’s leader confirmed that the Level Five restrictions will remain in effect until at least April 5.
However, Mr. Martin noted that the measures will be reviewed at this point, offering a glimmer of hope that they can be softened.
And we were also given an indication of which restrictions will be relieved first.
The Taoiseach explained today: “We want to reopen the Society as soon as possible and as safely as possible.
“So if we can keep the downward pressure on the disease and keep our numbers low, we will move to the next phase.
“There are a number of areas where we will assess progress by considering what changes may be possible.
“The government will examine whether it will be safe to begin easing restrictions on outdoor gatherings; some sporting activities; we will see the gradual reopening of construction and we would like to advance the 5km limit on non-essential travel.”
Here’s the full breakdown of the new Living with Covid roadmap:
Schools and childcare
| March 1st | Special schools at 100% capacity |
| Junior and senior infants, 1st and 2nd class to return to school | |
| Senior year Leaving Certificate classes to return to school subject to final agreement | |
| March 8 | Resumption of the ECCE program and return to school for ECCE-age children |
| March, 15th | 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade of primary school |
| 5th-year post-primary students to return to school | |
| March 29 | School-age care and early learning and care services will reopen |
| April 12th | Back to school from 1st to 4th year post-primary |
Economic measures
| Pandemic unemployment payment | Extended until June 30, 2021 |
| Employment wage subsidy scheme | Extended until June 30, 2021 |
| COVID-19 Enhanced Disease Benefit | Extended until June 30, 2021 |
| Covid Restrictions Support Scheme | Extended until June 30, 2021 |
| Suspension of provisions for dismissal | Extended until June 30, 2021 |
| Trade fee waiver | Extended until June 30, 2021 |
Staged return to school education
The phased return of education and child care services to school will be implemented as follows:
March 1, 2021:
- special schools to resume at 100% capacity
- the first four classes at the primary level, that is, junior and senior infants, first and second class to return to school education
- Senior year Exit Certificate classes to return to school education subject to final agreement
March 8, 2021:
- resumption of the ECCE program and return of ECCE-aged children
March 15, 2021:
- 3rd objective return; Bedroom; 5th and 6th grade of primary school. 5th year of post-primary
March 29, 2021
- resumption of all other early learning and child care services
April 12 onwards (after Easter holidays)
- reopening from 1st to 4th year in post-primary
Early Childhood and School-Age Child Care
The phased resumption of early childhood education and care services will take place in the following phases:
- resumption of the ECCE program and return of ECCE-age children as of March 8
- resumption of all other early childhood education and care services effective March 29.
- The resumption of the AEPI program as of March 8 is broadly aligned with the resumption of face-to-face primary education. It is also in line with expectations among suppliers and allows enough time for suppliers to prepare to reopen
Economic measures:
During the next period, the Government will continue to support workers by:
- Extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Plan, currently scheduled to close March 31, 2021, to June 30, 2021
- extend the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, currently scheduled to close on March 31, 2021, through June 30, 2021 for current beneficiaries, and continue to allow new participants to join the Payment
- extend the COVID-19 enhanced sickness benefit, currently scheduled to end March 31, 2021, through June 30, 2021
In addition, the Government will continue to support companies through:
- will extend the COVID Restrictions Plan, which is scheduled to close on March 31, 2021, until June 30, 2021 and will carry out an economic evaluation of the plan in accordance with legal requirements on the impact, design and sustainability of this important support.
- Continue to provide significant support, through loans, grants, vouchers and support schemes to companies affected by the pandemic, and keep such support under review as the situation develops.
- extend the suspension of layoff provisions, currently in effect through March 31, 2021, through June 30, 2021, in order to help prevent further permanent job losses at a time when approximately 480,000 people receive pandemic unemployment pay
- extend the current trade fee waiver for another three months for those businesses most severely affected by the restrictions
Local communities and local delivery
- A new Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organizations of € 10 million will be made available to allow the continuity of the provision of critical services to vulnerable groups.
Well-being and mental health
- Auxiliary mental health supports will continue to be offered remotely to ensure that isolated individuals can access assistance when they need it. An additional 10 million euros in financing will be made available to meet the increased demand that is being experienced
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