Up to 30000 supporters could be able to attend this year's All-Ireland football and hurling finals in August. 

That's according to the Irish Mail on Sunday, who today say that the Department of Sport is making plans for the return of fans to sporting fixtures.

As things stand, no supporters are permitted to attend any fixtures, in any code.

However, the Irish Mail on Sunday report states that the government has drawn up plans for the safe return of crowds.

It's understood the plan is split into three phases, with numbers very limited in the initial stages before increasing in scale as the summer moves on.

The return of fans will include competitions such as the GAA Championships and the League of Ireland, as well as rugby fixtures and golf's Irish Open.

The government and NPHET are set to consider further easing of restrictions across wider society in the coming weeks.

Speaking on the Tonight Show on Virgin Media last month, Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers said the government is hopeful of a return of fans in the coming months.

“We have a return-to-spectators plan that’s been drafted and we would like to do test events during the summer,” he said in late April.

“We can’t put a definitive date on that now but there’s nothing more I’d want to do as someone who lives in Dublin than to go and see a Dubs game.

“The All-Ireland is such an importance across GAA, ladies football and camogie. It’s great that we’re able to have an All-Ireland series this summer and, hopefully, with the vaccination effect, the one difference this year compared to last year is that we will see some spectators back.

“But that’ll be done in a planned way and a cautious way, and we’ve had a draft plan since the end of last year on that.”