The Housing Minister has said there's no guarantee that construction will be able to fully open on April 5th.
Darragh O'Brien has said he's hopeful there will be progress, but that it can't be guaranteed.
The Department of Housing had been hopeful that the construction sector would be able to open from today.
Those hopes were dashed when NPHET advised against reopening construction this month, instead deciding to focus on the phased return of schools.
The Taoiseach has said getting back to home building in April is a priority of the Government.
However, this morning Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said that can't be guaranteed.
He said: "It will obviously be based on public health advice.
"The NPHET advice we made our decision on to extend the restrictions was very stark.
"We're operating with a new variant now... it's responsible for over 90% of the virus [cases]. It's more transmissible."
Every week the wider construction sector remains closed, 700 to 800 homes are going unbuilt.
Minister O'Brien says he believes some of this will be made up later in the year.
Privately, however, some ministers concede a serious housing hangover is being stored up while the country remains locked down.
Most construction is currently closed, with the exception of some essential projects and maintenance work.
Newstalk's Barry Whyte reported that construction workers were busy during the last few days at one of Dublin's most high-profile roads, despite the ongoing restrictions.
