Lockdown will be extended by around six weeks when Cabinet meets this morning.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee on COVID-19 last night agreed to extend Level Five restrictions until March 5th at the earliest.

Government ministers will be asked to sign off on the plans at a full Cabinet meeting this morning.

The committee also agreed to place tighter restrictions on international travel.

All passengers arriving into Ireland without a negative PCR test will face a mandatory two-week quarantine period.

The same rules will apply for anyone coming from Brazil or South Africa.

Passengers will have to quarantine at state-chosen hotels; however, they will be able to leave if they get a negative PCR test after five days.

A €2,500 fine or a six-month prison sentence could be introduced for anyone who breaks the rules.

Meanwhile, Gardaí will be asked to increase their patrols near ports and airports – where people found to have travelled internationally without an essential purpose will face increased fines.

The Level Five extension will see all current restrictions remaining in place

The re-opening of special education and the wider school system was left more open-ended as negotiations between the Department and unions continue.

All the new measures are expected to be approved by Cabinet this morning; however, some may take some time to implement.

Reporting from Seán Defoe