Highest level of restrictions to continue in the Republic until April 5

Q Radio News/PA

Level Five restrictions are set to continue in Ireland until April 5 at least, the Cabinet has agreed.

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to sign off on the country’s path forward through the pandemic has now finished.

The Taoiseach is to make a live address to the country to unveil details the Government’s revised Living With Covid plan.

Sources have confirmed to the PA news agency that Level Five measures will remain in place until after Easter.

However, there is cautious optimism that a wider reopening will be possible at that point.

“It will be a different story.

“The vaccine rollout will be ramped up significantly, we’ll have better weather then.

“There will be better options,” a Cabinet source said.

As expected, the plan will include the phased reopening of schools and childcare, with some school pupils set to return to the classroom on March 1.

Junior and senior infants as well as first and second class in primary schools will be among the first back to school.

Leaving Certificate students are also expected to return to the classroom next week.

In a live address at 6pm, Micheal Martin will also give an update on the vaccination priority list, with a few changes expected to be made.

However, opposition parties criticised the Government’s messaging to the public about the plans to ease out of lockdown.