Attendances at inter-county games later this summer could be much higher than expected.

Cabinet will today consider recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency team (NPHET), with permission for outdoor sporting venues to hold 5,000 fans or 25 percent of ground capacity among the recommendations.

This weekend will see up to 500 fans in the ‘Six Counties’ allowed to attend GAA matches, while down south fans could return to games early next month with NPHET recommending that 200 fans be permitted into outdoor venues in June and 500 in July.

Looking towards August, there could well be a significant increase in numbers when it comes to fans attending games, with some reports today suggesting that the All-Ireland finals could see attendances of over 25,000.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that the above numbers for later this summer could happen “if we don't see a spike (in cases) and we don't see new concerns”.

"I'll be honest, if things keep going the way they are going, I would expect even those numbers that are going to be announced today in terms of numbers in the stadia in August - if we keep managing things in June and July, and we don't see a spike and we don't see new concerns, I think that won't be the limit of our ambition - I think we'll actually see larger numbers, but only if in the interim period we get it right.

"So, I think we can expect in that sort of August period much larger numbers back at ordinary events."

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