The 2km limit on travel and exercise will be extended to 5km on Tuesday.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has outlined a roadmap for the easing of public restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Varadkar confirmed that the majority of the existing safety restrictions will remain in place until 18 May, saying that the curve has been flattened, and that thousands of lives have been saved.
Before then, from Tuesday 5 May onwards, people over the age of 70 will be allowed outdoors to exercise as long as they avoid contact with others.
As well as this, the two kilometre limit on travel and exercise for the wider population will be extended to five kilometres.
From 18 May, outdoor work (construction and landscaping) will be allowed to resume, garden centres and hardware stores will be permitted to open and some outdoor sporting activities in small groups will be allowed.
It will also be possible to meet small groups of friends and family outdoors.
Varadkar also said that the plan is for schools and colleges to reopen for the resumption of the new academic year in September or October.
Progression to each phase, Varadkar warned, is conditioned on the virus remaining under control and restrictions may have to be reintroduced if a second wave occurs.
“The last few weeks have transformed our lives in so many different ways,” Varadkar opened his speech on Friday.
“Our plan is to reopen the country in a slow, staged, phased way. Five stages, three weeks apart, starting on 18 May, and with all things going to plan, the fifth stage commencing on 10 August.”
“On 18 May, Ireland begins to reopen. And begins that journey to a new normal,” Varadkar added.
The media were not given the chance to ask questions after Varadkar made the announcement but the Taoiseach will be appearing on the Late Late Show on Friday night.
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