'The end is now truly in sight': Taoiseach confirms Level 5 lockdown until April 5

Cabinet has agreed to extend the lockdown until April 5 with the Taoiseach set to address the nation this evening. Picture: Julien Behal Photography

A continuation of Level 5 restrictions will continue to at least April 5 but a return to school for all children will happen throughout March, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed.

In a nationwide television address, he confirmed that the Government has today decided to facilitate the safe return of in-school education and childcare services on a cautious and phased basis.

Acknowledging the toll the pandemic and the restrictions are having on people, Mr Martin said: "I know that people are physically and emotionally exhausted by this pandemic.

"It has placed enormous pressure on each of us individually and as a society, businesses and workers are deeply worried about the future. And we are all completely fed up with the impositions on our lives."

He confirmed that the Government will start the phased and safe return of in-school education from next Monday, where schools will re-open for junior infants to second class and Leaving Certificate students.

This will involve the return of over, 320,000 pupils, he said, and this reopening will be monitored.

The plan then will be for all outstanding classes in primary schools, and fifth years in secondary schools to return on March 15, he said.

All outstanding classes to return after the Easter break in April.

The government will expand the reopening of child care from March 8 and he said the early childhood preschool programme will reopen for all participating children, and from March 29 subject to public health advice other restrictions will be lifted.

All other children can return to early learning and childcare services, he said.

Thirdly, Mr Martin said the Government will resume non-Covid health and social care services over the coming weeks in advance of April 5.

“We will then review the situation,” he said.

Mr Martin said measures to support business and those unable to work due to the pandemic will be extended further with the EWSS, PUP and Covid enhanced illness benefit applicable to June 30.

He said an additional €10 million in funding will be made available to meet the increase for mental health services, and a further top-up of €10 million will be made available to enable critical services to continue being delivered to vulnerable groups.

He said the decision to extend Level 5 restrictions is difficult and will have considerable impact on all parts of our economy and society.

However, we continue to have an unacceptably high level of disease in the community, so we must continue to suppress the disease, the Taoiseach added.

The higher transmissibility of new variants requires all other restrictions to remain in place while these initial services reopen.

He said if the transmission of the virus reaches acceptable levels, the vaccination programme progresses as planned and public health advice allows, further options that will be considered from April 5 are:

• Some easing of restrictions on outdoor activities and meetings beyond 1 other household;
• Consideration of extending the current 5km limit;
• Staggered start of easing of other areas of restriction with a focus on outdoor activities including sport and some areas of construction.

Any further easing of restrictions after April 5 will need a further three to four week period to allow for assessment of the impact of changes, he said.

The requirement to work from home will continue throughout this period, unless work is essential health, social care or other essential service or activity that cannot be done from home.

The Government’s community support and well-being programmes will continue and employment and business supports will be extended, many of them to June.

The Government is committed to developing a clear roadmap for a return of activities in the hardest-hit sectors including tourism, culture and sport.

As he finished his address, Mr Marin acknowledged the toll the pandemic has taken on people's mental health and wellbeing and the devastation it has had on businesses and livelihoods.

But I also know that the end is now truly in sight. We have already shown what a remarkably resilient people we are.

"We have drawn on a deep innate sense of community and solidarity to get us this far.

"That’s why, I know, that we will get through this."

Following the Taoiseach's announcement regarding the return to school, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) warned officials in the Department of Education that the union expects decisions on the return of further classes to be led by up-to-date public health advice.

In a statement, the union said that the Department of Education has informed it that Dr Ronan Glynn, on behalf of Nphet, fully supports the return of the specified junior classes from March 1.

"Following a 50% decrease in the 14-day average of infection rates since February 1 and the lower reproduction rate of the virus, Nphet projects that the public health landscape is expected to improve further by next Monday."

The union has also secured a number of additional safety measures, including the publication of school-based testing and tracing reports, a public awareness campaign, and arrangements for high-risk and pregnant teachers.

"It should be noted that several issues raised by this union were not included in the latest proposals.

"Specifically, the provision of air ventilation monitors, face masks for pupils in senior classes and regular antigen testing, which the INTO sought, were not taken on board by the government."

Taoiseach to announce revised Living with Covid plan 

Earlier: Cabinet has agreed to extend the lockdown until April 5 with the Taoiseach set to address the nation this evening.

Micheál Martin will also outline the timetable for re-opening schools starting from next week.

Leaving Cert students as well as the four youngest years of primary school will return on March 1.

Childcare services are set to re-open starting with the ECCE scheme on March 8.

It has also been confirmed the commercial rates waiver for businesses will be extended until June for businesses hit by Covid-19.

Extensions of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme are also likely to be announced this evening.

Mr Martin will give details of a revised Living with Covid plan this evening, however it won't include dates for the re-opening of many sectors of the economy.

Sinn Féin's Health Spokesman David Cullinane believes that is broadly the right approach.

"Obviously dates are important. I think what is more important is how we get there and what tools we have to ensure that we keep numbers low," said Mr Cullinane.

"Dates are important and they can be a timeframe and something that people can aim towards.

"It gives people hope and there will be some dates in this in relation to school reopenings."

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns said there has to be enough in this evening's plan to give people hope. She said that a new strategy and approach would help as the public will is waining.

"I know that that would involve redoubling our efforts and understandably people do not want to do that. We have been in lockdown for a year, people are struggling, the next health crisis is a mental health one as a result of this.

"But if we have something to work for, I believe that we could and we would."