The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has advised the Government that schools can return on a phased basis from early March.
Leaving Certificate students will likely return on March 1st - along with with junior and senior infants.
However some students will not be back in the classroom until after Easter, as NPHET has recommended a very cautious approach to re-opening.
Not a lot of final decisions taken by tonight's cabinet sub-committee ahead of another meeting on Monday. Schools will re-open from "early March" on a phased basis and NPHET on board with that
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 18, 2021
There was no formal discussion on construction but multiple ministers now believe there will not be any further easing of restrictions for that sector.
There was broad agreement at the meeting that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) will need to be extended until the summer.
While HSE chief executive Paul Reid told the meeting of ministers that from April, more than one million people a month could be vaccinated.
But multiple sources played down an announcement next week of a revised Living with COVID plan.
"We're not going to have much to announce" one Minister said, with heavy restrictions set to continue.
