The Department of Health has confirmed 1,120 new cases of Covid-19.
There are 142 people in hospital who have tested positive for coronavirus, up one since yesterday, 27 of whom are in ICU, a rise of two overnight.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: "Almost 70% of our population is now fully vaccinated and today the vaccination programme has been extended to 12-15 year olds who will also be able to register for an mRNA vaccine.
"Following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, which has been approved by Government, I encourage parents and guardians of those aged 12-15 years of age to register them for a vaccination as soon as the opportunity arises.
"The vaccination programme has received high uptake to date. I strongly urge anyone eligible to register for a vaccine to do so as soon as possible."
Earlier it was confirmed that Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme will be extended to children aged from 12 to 15.
It is also understood that the Government is examining the possibility of giving a combined flu and Covid booster jab to those in nursing homes, over-80s, health care workers and those with underlying conditions from September.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that, apart from one or two decisions taken by the Cabinet today, very little else will be done in terms of any further significant reopening over the next six weeks.
He said the Government has to "take stock", but it will be keeping a close eye on the Covid case numbers and hospitalisations at all times.
Mr Martin said the country has already opened up "to a fair degree" in terms of "hospitality, retail, personal services, construction and so on" and in his view it has gone "reasonably well".
But he warned of a need for vigilance because of the Delta variant and appealed to people to be sensible in terms of their behaviour.
Also today, it was confirmed that the number of people permitted to attend weddings will rise from 50 to 100 after 5 August.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, said the decision was made at Cabinet "in principle" and that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will now look at the detail.
A group of brides-to-be marched to Government Buildings today to present their health and safety guidelines in a bid to allow their weddings go ahead next month with up to 100 guests.
In Britain, Imperial College epidemiologist Neil Ferguson said the end of the pandemic in the UK could be just months away as vaccines have so dramatically reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death.
However, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cautioned people not to get carried away following six days of falling infection rates there.
Meanwhile, GPs in Northern Ireland are said to be experiencing case load pressures normally associated with winter.
The Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Northern Ireland said there are many cases of Covid-19 in the community, predominately among 18 to 40-year-olds and among people who are mostly unvaccinated.
Dr Laurence Dorman, a GP in Kilkeel, Co Down, said that while the vaccination programme there has been a success, it needs to go further.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the younger age groups seem more reluctant to get the vaccine, and warned that young people with no underlying conditions can still get very sick from Covid-19.
Dr Dorman said the number of patients with the virus in hospitals has increased by over 60 in the last week or so in the North.
There were 1,473 positive new infections reported today in Northern Ireland along with three further deaths.
