The Cabinet has signed off on the easing of restrictions over the next two months.

Under the plans, the Government aims to bring the vast majority of restrictions to an end by October 22nd.

The Taoiseach is expected to announce the plans at 6pm.

The first phase of easing would see the return on larger crowds at concerts and live events from September 6th.

Where crowds are fully vaccinated, indoor crowds will be capped at 60% while outdoor crowds will be capped at 75%.

The capacity at sports events is also likely to increase – with different limits for indoor and outdoor as well as vaccinated and unvaccinated crowds.

Communions and confirmations will also be permitted from September 6th.

The second major easing would kick in on September 20th, with the return of workers to offices on a phased basis.

This phase will also see the return of indoor activities like bowling, team sports and after-school activities like dance and drama classes for children.

The use of the digital COVID cert to access indoor venues will also be removed by October 22nd.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the roadmap is a realistic plan.

31/08/2021 Covid-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus), Ireland. Day 524 since start of lockdown. Day 114 of eased restrictions. Pictured speaking to media at Dublin Castle this afternoon is Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, as he arrived to attend the meeting of the Cabinet today. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

He said: "The country is doing very well - our vaccination programme is phenomenal, and testing and tracing is very good.

"At the same time, we've got the highest COVID rates right now in the EU.

"We've got to find a way of reopening that's realistic, sustainable, and safe - that's the balance I believe we'll be discussing at Cabinet."

In a first stage of easing restrictions, public transport is expected to return to full capacity from tomorrow.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is confident people will continue to follow public health measures on public transport when capacity increases tomorrow.

Speaking on his way into today's Cabinet meeting, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said he's confident people will continue to follow public health measures on public transport when capacity increases tomorrow.

He said: "When we introduced [mask measures], people were asking would Irish people ever do it... within hours, I was looking at a bus passing by and just about everybody was wearing a mask.

"It's self-policing we're going to have to do - a culture of respect to other people on the bus."

"Very good news"

Earlier, Minister of State Niall Collins told Newstalk the roadmap was “very good news” for the country.

“Between now and October 22^nd, there will be continual monitoring of the disease within our population and trends and how that s impacting on our hospital services,” he said.

“But all in all, it is good news that we will have approved by Cabinet today a clear roadmap for the unwinding of all remaining restrictions.”

The roadmap would see the final restrictions lifted by October 22nd, and the country moved to a "personal responsibility" model.