Transport to return to 100% capacity, and other easings

Despite the gradual unwinding of some restrictions, other requirements such as asking people to wear a mask is set stay for the forseeable future.

Public transport will return to 100% capacity from next week, according to Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.

Under current health restrictions public transport is currently operating at 75% capacity.

But speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme earlier today, Minister Ryan said the situation had been reviewed in line with a series of other phased relaxations of restrictions.

This will start with an easing of restrictions on all forms of public transport starting for the month of September.

The change to public transport, MInister Ryan confirmed, was so to accommodate increased traffic of people with the imminent return of young people to schools and colleges and others going back to the work environment.

Minister Ryan further confirmed that confirmations and communions will now take place in September. Some have already taken place in parishes across Cavan.

Restrictions on the number of people attending live entertainment is expected to be eased also through September into October.

Minister Ryan did though accept Covid case numbers remain high in Ireland, and despite the gradual unwinding of some restrictions, others such as the requirement to wear a mask is set stay for the forseeable future.

The Department of Health today confirmed 1,706 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, 347 people currently being treated for the virus in hospital, and 60 of those in ICU.