The Tánaiste has warned that it may be “many months” before parts of the entertainment industry can reopen.

Leo Varadkar has said he hopes to have a “strong support package” in place for pubs and nightclubs if they are not given the green light to open at the end of the month.

He was speaking after vintners groups said they are no longer optimistic the twice-delayed reopening plans will go ahead on August 31st.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar arrives at Dublin Castle for a cabinet meeting, 21-07-2020. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images

Minister Varadkar said the Government will work to have a package ready to go if pubs are ordered to remain shut.

“It is becoming increasingly clear now that there are a number of sectors that may not be able operate or open at all for many months,” he said.

“People will see that particularly, for example, in the events sector, with some of the entertainment industry and we don’t know yet when pubs for example will be allowed to open.

“So, it is my view that some of those sectors will need extra care, extra attention and extra support.”

This morning, the country’s two main publican representative groups said 3,500 premises across the country have already been ordered to remain closed for 46% of the year.

A general view from behind the bar inside the Black Horse Inn in Haxby, York, on Super Saturday as pubs and other stores reopen after lockdown measures are relaxed in England

They are warning that any extension of the closure must be accompanied by direct financial aid to ensure they are able to survive.

Minister Varadkar said he is “very sympathetic to what they are saying.”

“What they are saying to us is that, if they are not able to reopen on the 31^st of August, they will need additional financial support in order to survive, so they will still be there when they are able to reopen whenever that is,” he said

“They made the point that they would like us to have an answer for them by August 31^st because that is the point at which we will be making that decision.”

He said that, if the reopening is further delayed, he aims to announce, “additional financial supports for pubs and nightclubs recognising that they are a sector that has been ordered by Government to stay closed longer than everyone else.”

Meanwhile, the Tánaiste also moved to calm fears that the two-week lockdown in Kildare, Laois and Offaly will threaten the reopening of schools in the three counties.

“My understanding is that the schools in the three countries of Kildare Laois and Offaly will open at the end of August as is going to be the case in the rest of the country,” he said.

“We are confident that if normal healthcare, normal childcare and normal retail can operate in those counties, then schools and colleges should open too.”

With reporting from Stephen Murphy

Main image shows singer/songwriter Ciara Sidine performing at the Sugar Club in Dublin, 21-09-2017. Image: Lucy Foster