The head of Nursing Homes Ireland has said a new booking system is to be used to schedule visits for residents.
Nursing homes can take visitors from next week under the revised plans for re-opening the country.
However visits can only happen in nursing homes that are COVID-19 free for 28 days.
Tadhg Daly is CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland.
He told Breakfast Briefing he was not surprised by the quickening of the plan.
"We very much welcome the announcement by the Taoiseach and Minister Harris on Friday.
"But we've got to now, obviously, the period of this week to ensure the preparations are in place - and also that families understand that there are some limitations: it's not back to normal unfortunately.
"So it's important we put those measures in place, that we don't become complacent given... the impact COVID-19 has on older people generally, but more particularly has had on nursing homes".
"Essentially what we're looking at is making a booking, if you like, which is a very strange phenomenon - both for nursing homes but also for families.
"So what we're saying is that each resident has a maximum of two named visitors, and only one at any one time.
"And that visits will have to be now scheduled.
"And as an organisation, we're working with our members on a booking app, if you like, so people can make bookings".
But he said: "Clearly if someone has had COVID or has had a temperature or has symptoms, they clearly will not be in a position to visit.
"We'll also have to engage in coughing etiquette and indeed face masks and in some cases PPE, where necessary.
"So it will be different, but it is very, very good news".
He said guidelines have been shared with members since Friday.
"While many things are opening today in terms of shops, it does give the nursing home sector - both public, private and voluntary - the week to put all those plans in place."
"And that's crucial to ensure that we get it right, both from the organisation point of view but also from the families themselves.
"There'll be regular communication this week with families".
"This is a phased introduction: the public health advice will change over time.
"Clearly if there's a second spike, God forbid, that will change matters very, very dramatically and very, very quickly.
"So we've got to be very, very careful here".
