Level five lockdown has been extended until April 5th, but schools are set to re-open next week.
It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the end of the crisis is 'now truly in sight'.
Leaving Cert students and the youngest four classes in primary school will return next Monday, with others staggered later in March and into April.
Childcare services will also return in phases starting on March 8th.
"When we open things, we want them to stay open" says the Taoiseach while encouraging people to continue to follow Level 5 restrictions
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 23, 2021
The new government roadmap for vaccination sees around 4.5 million doses delivered in the second quarter of this year.
The Taoiseach said by the end of June up to 82% of adults will have had their first dose.
The restrictions will be reviewed before Easter, and Micheal Martin says removing the 5km travel limit will be among the measures considered.
He said: "The vaccination programme will completely change the landscape and transform the options available to us as a society for reopening and renewing our country.
"We will get through this. We just need to stay focused, and get through these next few months, safely, together."
He added that "when we open things, we want them to stay open".
