Simon Coveney has confirmed people can expect a 'quite significant' easing of restrictions from May 10th.
The Foreign Affairs Minister says everything won't happen at the same time, instead happening on a phased basis on May 10th, May 17th and early June.
Cabinet ministers are meeting today to sign off on the reopening plan.
Inter-county travel is expected to return from May 10th - the same day hairdressers, barbers and click and collect retail will be allowed to reopen.
Religious services are also set to return that day, along with a further easing of restrictions around outdoor meetings.
Weddings in May will be allowed 50 people at the service
Only 6 at indoor reception; 15 at outdoor reception
This will increase to 25 in June— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) April 29, 2021
All retail is expected to be allowed reopen from May 17th, followed by hotels and B&Bs on June 2nd.
Outdoor dining in pubs and restaurants will be allowed to return from June 7th, with the previous requirement for a 'substantial meal' set to be scrapped.
Gyms will also be allowed reopen for individual training only on June 7th.
Minister Coveney spoke to Newstalk Breakfast after a late-night sub-committee meeting with NPHET last night.
He said: "The recommendations coming from the Chief Medical Officer and his team I think really are a cause for hope.
“I think for many people hope is starting to break through now - that we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
“From May 10th, there will be changes in restrictions… quite significant ones.
“I don’t want to start confirming things this morning, because we need to bring things to Cabinet. But the media reports today, by and large, are accurate - I think it’s unlikely the Government will deviate too significantly from any of that later today.”
'Low to moderate risk'
Minister Coveney stressed that not everything will happen simultaneously, with the reopening instead to happen on a phased basis.
He also warned that people still need to be careful - with around 400 people a day still testing positive for the virus.
He said the reopening plan does involve a level of risk - but NPHET believes the measures involved are a "low to moderate" risk.
However, he said the plan will be changed if the COVID-19 numbers ‘spike’ in a way that is unexpected.
