The leaders of the three government parties agreed last night to end almost all remaining Covid restrictions.
The final decision will be made at a full Cabinet meeting later today with the changes taking effect from Monday 28 February.
This would mean that mask wearing in schools, retail settings and on public transport would be voluntary.
It is likely people would still be advised to continue wearing masks on public transport, but it would not be underpinned by law.
Physical distancing measures in schools, such as pods, would also end next week.
The NPHET will also be wound-up, but the Office of the Chief Medical Officer will continue to monitor Covid in Ireland.
Meanwhile, children between the ages of 12 and 15 are set to be offered Covid-19 booster vaccinations, according to the Minister for Health.
The Department of Health reported 5,925 new cases of Covid yesterday based on a combination of PCR tests and self-reported antigen tests. There are 634 patients in hospital with Covid of whom 53 are in intensive care.
For updated and factual Public Health information and advice on COVID-19 Coronavirus, please visit hse.ie/coronavirus or call 1800 700 700
For the latest information on the Covid-19 Vaccine Programme, please visit hse.ie/covid-19-vaccine
