# level 5

All time

# level 3 plus

At a glance: Everything you need to know about the reopening plan announced tonight

These are all the key dates you need to know.

The government agreed to ease a number of Covid-19 restrictions on a phased basis from next month.

Inter-county travel, more outdoor meetings and increased numbers at funerals and wedding services from 10 May.

The Taoiseach said: "Hope is returning."

70.9k

Apr 29th 2021, 8:27 PM

# reopening

'It feels like Christmas': Dublin Zoo reopens with families excited to 'have a new experience'

The zoo opened with reduced capacity at 9.30am.

24.9k

Updated

Apr 26th 2021, 11:52 AM

# level 5

'Enough is enough now - I need my passport back': Months of frustration as Passport Office backlog stands at 83,000

Applicants who submitted documents as far back as November and December are still waiting to get them back.

115k

Apr 11th 2021, 12:05 AM

# restrictions

'Her shoes are falling apart': Parents call for clarity on buying children's shoes

Parents whose children wear splints, known as AFOs, have been having particular issues finding suitable shoes.

77.2k

Mar 30th 2021, 12:36 PM

# Opinion Poll

Social visits between households double since end of January despite Level 5 restrictions

The finding was contained a new opinion poll by the ESRI.

33.0k

Mar 26th 2021, 9:44 PM

Voices

Opinion: What's the use in the public doing NPHET's 'a little bit more' if Government can do no better?

Shubhangi Karmakar says the angry response to NPHET’s call last week was the last crack in the rift between public health and public opinion.

61.4k

Mar 23rd 2021, 7:00 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Are you still adhering to the Level 5 restrictions?

As we head into the spring Government has indicated a slight easing of restrictions is on the cards from 5 April.

76.9k

106

Mar 16th 2021, 9:19 AM

# level 5

Passport Office to begin processing some applications as categories of 'reasonable excuses' for travel expanded

People have expressed their frustration at having to wait since Christmas for their passport application to be processed.

65.0k

Mar 12th 2021, 2:21 PM

# spare doses

No Cabinet discussion on vaccine delays, but Ireland reaching out to other EU countries for additional supplies

Micheál Martin said Boris Johnson has “made this point” to him.

61.4k

Updated

Mar 9th 2021, 8:00 PM

# level 5

Passport Office unable to say when people who sent their passport in pre-lockdown will get it back

The Passport Office has said it won’t resume normal service until the end of Level 5 restrictions.

74.9k

Mar 5th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Do you think this will be Ireland's last Level 5 lockdown?

Last night a further 359 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland.

89.4k

145

Mar 3rd 2021, 8:43 AM

# level 5

Summer bookings at 'historic low', hotels say

The hotels industry is calling for more supports from the government while they remain shut.

35.4k

Feb 23rd 2021, 8:34 AM

# easing lockdown

Level 5 restrictions to remain in place until at least 5 April, Cabinet sub-committee agrees

The government is expected to publish its updated Living with Covid plan this week.

227k

191

Updated

Feb 22nd 2021, 11:01 PM

# Liam Cahill

'It’s a real headache for the GAA now' - Waterford boss frustrated by elite sport change

The Deise manager was unaware of the change in elite status.

8.6k

Feb 11th 2021, 9:24 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Are you getting more or less exercise since the latest restrictions were introduced?

The restrictions permit exercise within 5km of your home, but are you getting out for more walks or runs this time?

51.9k

Feb 7th 2021, 9:46 AM

# covid19

Minister says gardaí will not enter homes to ensure people are quarantining after travel

If people are found not to be at home when they receive a call, they could face a fine of up to €2,500.

42.8k

102

Updated

Jan 27th 2021, 1:51 PM

# level 5

Travellers into Ireland to be subject to mandatory quarantine at home or in a hotel, government says

Micheál Martin announced the extended measures this afternoon.

59.0k

Updated

Jan 26th 2021, 6:16 PM

# Covid-19

Taoiseach says there will be restrictions for six months, schools may not reopen until March

Micheál Martin said he is concerned about the UK strain of the virus, and vaccine delivery delays.

221k

229

Updated

Jan 23rd 2021, 2:55 PM

# level 5

Taoiseach hints at school closures beyond 1 February and says 'focus' is on special needs education

Micheál Martin says the issue will be discussed by the Cabinet sub-committee on Monday.

41.2k

Jan 22nd 2021, 6:44 PM

# restrictions

Over 770 fines issued by gardaí for non-essential travel since 11 January

Under current Covid-19 restrictions, gardaí are continuing to carry out checkpoints nationwide.

17.2k

Jan 22nd 2021, 3:53 PM

# outbreaks

'A real concern': A third of patients with Covid-19 in hospital contracted the virus while on wards, says Tánaiste

‘They didn’t come in Covid positive, they picked up Covid while in the hospital,’ said Leo Varadkar.

27.8k

Jan 21st 2021, 1:30 PM

# level 5

Taoiseach says restrictions will likely continue 'well into' February and possibly beyond

Micheál Martin said Covid-19 transmission rates are too high to ease restrictions.

Micheál Martin said Covid-19 transmission rates are too high to ease restrictions

Schools and construction are "essential" and will be examined separately to other sectors

Yesterday 61 more deaths and 2,488 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland

89.5k

226

Jan 21st 2021, 9:43 AM

# level 5

Level 5 lockdown to be reviewed next week, but government expected to extend restrictions to late February

Government sources state that it is still their intention to get schools reopened in February.

103k

Updated

Jan 20th 2021, 9:45 PM

# Lockdown

'About 30%' of construction sites remaining open despite Level 5 shutdown

Some of the biggest FDI sites in the country are open under government exemptions.

67.2k

Jan 19th 2021, 9:00 PM

# Micheál Martin

Taoiseach: 'In hindsight, would we have done what we did a month ago? Obviously not'

“Nobody predicted, in any model, the level of community transmission that we’re currently experiencing,” he told Virgin Media News.

57.9k

117

Jan 16th 2021, 8:31 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Have you travelled over 5km since the beginning of the month?

Under current Covid-19 restrictions, a 5km travel limit is in place.

86.8k

129

Jan 13th 2021, 9:16 AM

# level 5

Deal struck with Government to provide funding for childcare services for essential workers

The IBEC groups said all childcare services will be open for children of frontline and essential workers and vulnerable children.

40.0k

Updated

Jan 8th 2021, 8:35 PM

# covid19

Here are the new restrictions as Ireland's Covid-19 cases climb

Government has announced additional measures aimed at combating viral spread and protecting the country’s health service.

52.6k

Jan 7th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Travel

People travelling from Britain or South Africa required to have negative Covid test before arrival

The change will kick in this Saturday.

7.8k

Jan 6th 2021, 5:44 PM

# Creche

Childcare services to remain open but only for vulnerable groups and children of essential workers

The measures will remain in place until at least the end of January.

38.1k

Updated

Jan 6th 2021, 5:35 PM

# Retail

Click and collect services for non-essential retail banned under new restrictions

The decision to ban click and collect services comes following a Cabinet meeting this afternoon.

43.3k

Updated

Jan 6th 2021, 4:45 PM

# third wave

Cabinet to sign off on closure of schools until February, most construction sites set to shut down

Ministers meet this morning and an announcement is expected later today.

Strict new rules on international travel are also set to be signed-off.

It comes as the numbers in hospital exceed the previous peak in mid-April.

82.0k

105

Jan 6th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Covid-19

Partners no longer allowed to attend 20-week pregnancy scan, Rotunda announces

The “very difficult decision” was made “due to the surge in community-acquired Covid-19 infections”.

43.3k

Updated

Jan 4th 2021, 10:05 PM

# Childcare

Explainer: What childcare options are available in Level 5 and who gets priority?

The government has asked parents who are not essential workers to keep their children at home.

45.3k

Jan 4th 2021, 4:59 PM

# level 5

Gardaí to carry out checkpoints within local areas as country enters Level 5 restrictions

Gardaí will also engage in high visibility patrolling in public areas such as parks and recreational areas.

105k

Dec 31st 2020, 2:08 PM

# new year's eve

People must 'look at their plans' and reduce contacts as Ireland battles third wave, Holohan says

Dr Tony Holohan said the current levels of transmission of Covid-19 are “simply unsustainable”.

32.9k

134

Dec 31st 2020, 9:01 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Do you agree with the government's decision to return to Level 5 restrictions for a month?

The new restrictions were announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday.

153k

165

Dec 31st 2020, 8:41 AM

'It's a hammer blow': Retailers say they are in 'shock' at decision to shut non-essential shops

The move has been described as a “hammer blow” to retailers.

53.2k

113

Dec 30th 2020, 9:48 PM

# level 5

'Full Level 5': What do the new restrictions mean for households and businesses?

The new restrictions come into force tonight until 31 January.

95.8k

104

Dec 30th 2020, 7:52 PM

# level 5

'The situation is extremely serious': Return to full Level 5 restrictions until 31 January

The new restrictions were announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin this evening .

Ban on household visits kicks in at midnight tonight

All non-essential retail to close tomorrow

School re-opening pushed back to 11 January

Martin says the situation is 'extremely serious'

173k

309

Dec 30th 2020, 6:08 PM