Carers, pharmacists and retail workers won't be eligible.

It comes as the Health Minister has indicated some Covid restrictions could be eased before the end of the month.

Cavan General Hospital is experiencing a “prolonged period of increased activity”.

There's been an increase of 185 across Co Cavan.

Public health experts are appealing to parents to read up on the benefits of the vaccination and register their children.

Close contacts who're vaccinated and have recovered from Covid in the past three months will also no longer need to self-isolate.

Retail Excellence's Managing Director has called for the Irish government to take a more "pragmatic approach".

It comes after reports of people in the region travelling to Northern Ireland to avail of either free antigen tests, or PCR tests.