Eight more deaths and 295 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Ireland
Eight more people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland have died, the Department of Health confirmed.
It brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths here to 54.
An additional 295 new cases of the virus have also been confirmed in the Republic, with 2,910 people now having tested positive for COVID-19 as of 1pm today.
Meanwhile, more time is needed to make a "firm prediction" on when a surge of coronavirus cases might occur in Ireland, the Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG) has said.
Graph from Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. Credit: Department of Health****
Three-month deal reached for private hospitals to operate as public facilities
A three-month agreement has been made for private hospitals to operate as public facilities.
19 hospitals with a capacity of under 2,000 beds with 47 intensive care units will be used by the HSE under the public private partnership with the Private Hospitals’ Association.
Patients with COVID-19, as well as those who do not have the virus, will be treated at the hospitals.
However, the government says it can't confirm at the moment how much the partnership will cost.
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Repatriation flight carrying 130 Irish citizens from Peru lands in Dublin Airport
A plane carrying over 130 Irish citizens being repatriated from Peru has touched down in Dublin Airport.
The British Airways flight from Lima landed at London's Heathrow Airport this morning and a connecting flight to Dublin arrived at around 2.30pm.
Peru closed its borders two weeks ago and diplomatic approval had been given from the authorities to allow the Irish citizens to be rescued.
The country declared a state of emergency two weeks ago over the coronavirus pandemic and it closed its borders leaving foreign tourists stuck in hotels, hostels and Airbnbs.
Over 100 Irish citizens returned home today after being stranded in Peru. One of them is Róisín O’Rourke from Cavan.
Separately Maureen Daly, from Dublin, waited for her daughter to come through the gates. pic.twitter.com/kNCb19b4GC— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) March 30, 2020
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Donohoe: 'Unlikely' that new government will be formed by Easter
The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said it is "unlikely" that a new government will be formed by Easter.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are engaged in talks to agree on a programme for government.
Speaking on Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder this evening, Minister Donohoe said it would be a "very demanding" challenge to have a new government formed in the next two weeks.
The Minister added that a stable, majority government will be needed in the coming months to deal with the impact of the coronavirus on the country and economy.
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Coronavirus 'once in a century challenge' to Irish society
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty says the coronavirus pandemic is presenting a 'once in a century challenge' to Irish society.
She says her department is expecting a rise in applications for the new wage subsidy scheme, after further coronavirus restrictions were announced on Friday.
Some 283,000 payments have been made so far and a further 25,000 payments have gone to employers under the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Minister Doherty earlier told Newstalk Breakfast she expected the figure to rise.
