It's official - up to six people will be allowed to meet indoors in the South from Monday onward

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also announced on Friday that the five phases designed to lead Ireland out of lockdown had been reduced to four.

Also permitted from Monday is people can travel to anywhere within their own county or up 20km - whichever distance is the longest.

People living in the South will be permitted to travel anywhere in Ireland from June 29.

Mr. Varadkar urged people to continue to work from home where possible.

It was also announced that up to 25 people will be permitted to attend a funeral.

Public libraries and playgrounds, once supervised, will also be allowed to reopen.

Summer camps for children are also permitted as long as there are no more than 15 people mixing.

Mr. Varadkar is also allowing shops to reopen on Monday but they are not permitted to open to the public earlier than 10.30am and must dedicate specific times for the elderly, vulnerable and at risk.

Shopping malls will be permitted to reopen on June 15 with a strict ban on groups congregating.