All pubs across Donegal and the rest of the country are expected to open by the middle of this month.
It is understood the Government is finalising a new set of guidelines to be shared with publicans’ organisations in the coming days.
The pubs will be subject to strict regulation and inspection, and will coincide with the publication of the Government’s plan for the next phase of managing the Covid-19 pandemic – the so-called “living with Covid” plan – on September 14th.
The Irish Times reports that drafts of the Department of Health’s plan have been circulated and are subject of intense discussion, with some sources believing it is overly-restrictive.
It is also understood the new plan will recast the relationship between the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the Government, with more collaboration and communication between the two sides on public health measures.
Senior figures in the Government are keen to get away from the model where Nphet is seen as making public health recommendations and the Government is then watering them down.
There were a further 98 confirmed Covid-19 cases reported in the State on Friday, but no further deaths.
There has not been a death recorded from Covid-19 in the State since August 22nd.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Friday that the key priority of getting a million students back to school for September had been achieved, and that the focus would now turn to the health services.
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