Lockdown Dates for Construction in Ireland 2020-2021

First Wave: February – August 2020

Shutdown in construction activity from 28^th March until 17^th May 2020 (inclusive)

Total: 7 weeks

References:

Press Release: Government approves moving to Phase 1 of easing COVID-19 restrictions –https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3736c7-government-approves-moving-to-phase-1-of-easing-covid-19-restriction/
Press Release: Government publishes roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s society and economy – https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e5e599-government-publishes-roadmap-to-ease-covid-19-restrictions-and-reope/

Second Wave: August – December 2020

No shutdown.

Construction (and schools) remained open under Level 5 restrictions between 21^st October 2020 and 1^st December.

Third Wave: December 2020 – Present

Shutdown in construction activity from 6pm on Friday 8th January until 11^th April 2021 (inclusive). Includes the phased reopening of schools and childcare.

From 12 April, all RESIDENTIAL construction can restart as well as early-learning and childcare projects.

Total: 13 weeks

From 4 May – Full reopening of construction activity.

References:

Press Release: Ireland placed on full Level 5 Restrictions of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 – https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/066ce-ireland-placed-on-full-level-5-restrictions-of-the-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/
Press Release: Current public health restrictions to continue until 5th April – https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c80ef-current-public-health-restrictions-to-continue-until-5th-april/
Press Release: Minister O’Brien welcomes phased reopening of construction – https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f1b60-minister-obrien-welcomes-phased-reopening-of-construction/
Briefing on Government measures in response to COVID-19 – Friday 7 May 2021 – https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a8ae5-briefing-on-government-measures-in-response-to-covid-19-friday-7-may-2021/

Measures (as per 6^th April 2021) available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/

Current measures (as per 2nd June 2021) available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/

During shutdown construction was closed, with the following exceptions:

essential health and related projects including those relevant to preventing, limiting, minimising or slowing the spread of COVID-19
social housing projects, including voids, designated as essential sites by Local Authorities based on set criteria
housing adaptation grants where the homeowner is agreeable to adaptions being undertaken in their home
repair, maintenance and construction of critical transport and utility infrastructure
education facilities sites designated as essential by Department of Education
supply and delivery of essential or emergency maintenance and repair services to businesses and places of residence (including electrical, gas, oil, plumbing, glazing and roofing services) on an emergency call-out basis
certain large construction projects in the exporting / FDI sector based on set criteria
in relation to private homes that are practically complete and scheduled for habitation by 31 January 2021, including where snagging, and essential remediation work, such as pyrite works is nearing completion, works should continue to enable homeowners access their homes. Heating, water, broadband and electricity installation should also continue to enable homes be occupied
existing tenancy protections mean that a tenant cannot be evicted from their home during the period of the 5km travel restrictions. To enable a limited functioning of the housing and residential tenancy market during this time it has also been agreed that online viewings will be the default approach to viewing property for rental or sale, with a physical viewing only permissible at the point where a tenancy agreement is being entered into or where a contract for sale has been drawn up. This approach balances the need to avoid social interaction with the need to provide a pathway to tenancy and home ownership for those who need it

This page was last edited on 2nd June 2021.

This document was prepared by Isabel Barros Architects.

Image: Construction Vectors by Vecteezy