Coronavirus restrictions could be eased on a phased basis throughout April.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is this evening advising senior Government ministers on what restrictions, if any, can be eased next month.

The health officials met this morning to consider their recommendations in the face of increasing daily case numbers over the past week.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee on COVID is now meeting to consider the advice.

The focus will be on outdoor activities – replacing the 5km travel rule, allowing meet-ups with one other household, allowing a return to sport for children and bringing back activities like golf and tennis.

That will all be heavily caveated depending on NPHET’s advice.

The latest suggestion in Government circles is that the easing may be phased through April - with one measure eased a week.

It is hoped that may allow enough time to assess the impact of changes as they happen.

A roadmap for reopening into May is also expected to be agreed.

One of the biggest decisions currently facing Cabinet is whether or not to allow construction to return.

While Ministers want to allow it, there is concern about what it would mean for the number of people moving around the country to work on various sites.

The sub-committee is meeting at the moment, ahead of a full Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

The Taoiseach is due to address the nation again tomorrow evening.