A Decision On Whether Construction Can Re-Open For Home Building Won't Be Made Until Next Week

The planned easing of some restrictions in April has been put in fresh doubt amid stagnating case numbers

Seán Defoe reports:

'This is the week NPHET will examine all the available data to decide whether some restrictions can be eased in April, and it's off to a worrying start with 769 new cases of COVID confirmed yesterday - the highest since the end of February. 

We won't know for a few more days whether that was a blip - or a more sustained trend as unease with the current restrictions is rising. 

NPHET meets on Thursday, ahead of a cabinet sub-committee next Monday before the full cabinet will make the call next Tuesday. 

Up for discussion is the re-opening of house and apartment construction, easing the 5km rule and some kind of outdoor gatherings. 

But today Ministers are more pessimistic about what they might be able to do if numbers continue to rise. 

There will be a big push from Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien to get construction open, with 700 or 800 home completions a week being missed while the lockdown continues.

It will be a balancing act for Ministers.

NPHET will push back on re-opening if cases are going up.

But there's a political acceptance that many people have been pushed to the limit by Level 5, and will need some relief, even if it's very slight.'