The government has published a full list of the essential service providers who are exempt from new restrictions imposed this week to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a two week nationwide lockdown on Friday in the latest response to the coronavirus pandemic.
During this time people are not supposed to leave their houses except for very limited circumstances in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.
These include going to buy groceries or collect a meal, attending an important medical appointment, taking brief exercise near your home, or urgent family needs.
A grace period until 6pm on Monday has been given for people to make arrangements to wind down, or transfer home, business not deemed essential in the coronavirus crisis.
Exempt from the new travel restrictions are certain “essential service providers” which are necessary to maintain supply chains and keep the country functioning.
Among those are agricultural workers directly involved in food production on farms, as well as fishing, and people working at essential retail outlets such as supermarkets.
It also exempts people in different areas of manufacturing necessary to sustain supply chains, utilities workers in electricity, gas, and water, and transport workers.
Construction has not been deemed essential work, except for people working on projects directly relevant to the coronavirus crisis.
People who are employees in essential services should carry either a form of work identification or a letter from their employer while travelling.
The self-employed, farmers, and clergy should carry at least one form of identification at all times.
The full list of essential services exempt from the coronavirus restrictions is:
Agriculture and Fishing:
- farmers
- farm labourers
- farm relief service workers
- others involved directly or indirectly in crop and animal production and related activities (including veterinary services), and workers involved in fishing
- the manufacture of food and beverage products
- the manufacture of prepared animal feeds
- the manufacture of work-wear apparel or footwear
- the manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard and wood
- the printing and reproduction of newspapers and other media services
- the manufacturing of coke and refined petroleum products
- the manufacturing of alumina; chemicals and chemical products
- the manufacture of pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations
- the manufacture of products necessary for the supply chain of essential services; computer, electronic and optical products including semi-conductors; electrical equipment, machinery and other equipment (including agricultural and forestry machinery); medical devices; and medical and dental equipment and supplies
Repair and installation of Machinery and Equipment
- the supply, repair and installation of machinery and equipment and industrial machinery and equipment for essential services
- electric power generation, transmission and distribution
- extraction and distribution of gas
- water collection, treatment and supply
- sewerage; waste collection, remediation activities and other waste management treatment and disposal activities
- essential health and related projects relevant to the COVID-19 crisis, and supplies necessary for such projects
- repair/construction of critical road and utility infrastructure
- delivery of emergency services to businesses and homes on an emergency call-out basis in areas such as electrical, plumbing, glazing and roofing
- retail services in accordance with the separate “Updated Essential Retail Outlets” list
- wholesale and distribution services necessary for the sale of food, beverages, fuel, medicines, medical products and devices and essential household products; takeaways and food delivery services
Transport Storage and Communication
- land transport (for example, bus, rail and taxi services)
- road, rail, sea and air freight
- sea and air passenger services; ports and airports
- warehousing and support activities for transportation including cargo-handling
- postal and courier activities
- network control and critical maintenance (including roads)
- safety related functions
Accommodation and Food Services
- hotels or similar providing essential accommodation (including homeless, direct provision and related services)
- food and beverage service activities in accordance with the separate essential retail outlets list or for supply to a business engaged in an essential service
Information and Communications
- the publishing of newspapers, journals and periodicals as well as video, television programme production, sound recording, radio and television broadcasting; wired and satellite and telecommunications activities; internet and cloud providers; data centres and related services
Financial and legal activities
- banking and financial services (including banks, credit unions and post offices)
- accountancy, legal and insurance services necessary to support essential services and vulnerable people
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities
- engineering, technical testing activities and analysis
- scientific research and development activities
- regulation, inspection and certification services necessary to support essential services
- rental and lease of cars
- light motor vehicles and trucks necessary to support the provision of essential services
Administrative and Support Services
Where necessary to support other essential services:
- employment placement and human resources associated with the recruitment and deployment of workers
- security activities to assist in the delivery of essential services and the securing of premises closed to the public
- cleaning of buildings and industrial cleaning activities; business support activities which are necessary to support essential services included on this list; payroll and payment services necessary for the operation of businesses; data processing, hosting and related activities
Public Administration and Defence
- Public administration activities necessary to support essential services and provision of social protection benefits (including Civil Service and Local Government)
- An Garda Siochana, Garda Staff and the Garda Reserve
- public order, safety, fire service and ambulance activities
- the Defence Forces
- emergency call answering service to ensure administration of justice
- Prison services and Child Detention services
- cyber-security
- regulatory processes and certification required to ensure supply chains, food, medicine and general process safety
- operation of botanical gardens, parks, forests and nature reserves
- funeral services
- religious personnel
- office-holders and public representatives
Human health and social work activities
- hospital services
- paramedical and essential therapy activities
- public health activities (including all those deployed to contract tracing and COVID-19 testing services)
- laboratory services
- drug treatment and addiction services
- hospice services
- pharmacy services
- primary care, general and specialist medical practice activities provided by public and private providers
- emergency dental practice activities
- blood donation service
- residential care activities (including nursing care, mental health and substance abuse, elderly and persons with disabilities, children’s residential services)
- homecare home help and other community services
- social work and social care activities (including disability services, mental health, child protection and welfare, domestic, sexual and gender based violence, homeless services including outreach)
- ambulance/pre-hospital emergency care services
- minor injury units
- maternity services
- health, social work, environmental, food safety regulatory activities
Community/Voluntary Services
- community and voluntary workers, working in a publicly commissioned service, not otherwise included on the list, deployed to assist in the delivery of essential services
- volunteer services operating under the local authority emergency management framework in accordance with public health guidance
