Level 5 restrictions will be extended until April 5th, with construction remaining shut for another month.
Last night the cabinet sub-committee on COVID agreed to the extension, with sign-off expected from the full Cabinet this afternoon.
More than 300,000 students will also return to the classroom next Monday as part of the plan, while childcare will also return.
Consultant in infectious diseases, Dr Eoghan DeBarra, says the phased reopening of schools can be done safely.
"I think schools consistently in Ireland, the UK and in many other countries have show to be a safe place.
"They haven't turned out to be areas of lots of transmission. So run appropriately, it's a safe place for teachers to be.
"The worry around it is the movement of parents to and from school."
