The Tánaiste is planning to ask public health officials to allow workers to return to the office in August.
This is a month earlier than the original plan.
Leo Varadkar believes people could return to the office in August as most people will be fully vaccinated by then.
The Tánaiste says in this way people would be settled into their new routine before the rush of school and college in September.
Leo Varadkar says it would be done on a phased basis – starting with meetings and training and antigen testing would have to be considered.
He now plans to ask NPHET to consider the proposal.
Meanwhile talks are ongoing between union reps and government officials about what the office might look like post Covid.
Professor of Immunovirology at UCC, Liam Fanning, thinks it’s a realistic plan:
