Restaurarteurs have been told that case numbers need to be around 200 a day in order to reopen next week.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland (ROI) has been in intensive discussions with Government over the last number of days.
Nphet is meeting earlier than planned this week, as it prepares to make recommendations regarding exiting level 5.
Chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins says no promises have been made: “The case numbers must go into the 200s to give us a real opportunity of reopening, we are at 318 cases a day.
“We want to reopen and stay open for the rest of this pandemic until the roll-out of a vaccine is completed for the general population."
Earlier this month, the ROI chief said that December is a vital month for the industry and has in previous years accounted for over 30 per cent of annual income which is used as a cash flow to stabilise restaurants in January and February of any normal trading year.
He said "Restaurants do not make public health policy but have consistently followed it throughout the pandemic.
"The evidence shows that restaurants are safe, controlled environments. The Health Surveillance Protection Centre (HSPC) reporting of outbreak sources since March showed that there were 39 cases (4 per cent) in a Restaurant or Café out of a total of 8,311.”
Exchequer losses
He said that based on economic analysis produced by Economist Jim Power, if restaurants do not open this December the exchequer and by default the Irish taxpayer will lose €250 million.
He added "By analysing the 2018 contribution by the Restaurant Sector to the Exchequer, the Accommodation and Food services sector contributed €1.16 billion to the Exchequer, comprised of VAT (€661 m); PAYE, Income Tax & USC (€316 m); Self-Employed Income Tax (€53 m); Corporation Tax (€119 m); and CGT (€11 m).”
With the news being confirmed today that Ireland will move to Level 3 restrictions once Level 5 is lifted on December 1st, there is still uncertainty what it will mean for pubs and restaurants
It is looking unlikely that 'wet pubs' — pubs that do not serve food — will be allowed to reopen.
Pubs that serve foods and restaurants could reopen and it is hoped they will be allowed to stay open if that is the case, rather than closing again in January.
Meanwhile, it is believed that further regulations on seating and table service could be required for pubs that serve food to reopen.
