Global fast food giant McDonald’s has begun its reopening plans for its Irish outlets as of today, Wednesday, May 20, with the opening of the first six of its restaurant ‘drive-thrus’ as of this morning.

Six McDonald’s restaurants across Dublin will reopen ‘drive-thru’ lane operations from 11:00am to 10:00pm with new measures in place to help keep employees and customers safe, the company revealed.

This follows the opening in the UK of 15 restaurants for “McDelivery” on Wednesday, May 13.

“With restaurant teams adjusting to new procedures to enable safe working and social distancing, things may take a little longer – and high demand is anticipated,” a spokesperson said.

McDonald’s and its franchisees are working closely with local authorities and An Garda Síochána, and may determine that it is necessary to close ‘drive-thru’ lanes, if queues cause disruption at busier sites, it was added.

The reopening of the fast food giant has meant that beef supplier firm Dawn Meats’ patty production facility in Carrolls Cross in Co. Waterford will recommence production of beef patties for McDonald’s outlets around Europe.

Some 50 Dawn Meats staff will now return to the McDonald’s plant in accordance with enhanced protocols, allowing production to recommence to meet the required demand as McDonald’s restaurants begin the re-opening process both in Ireland and across other European markets, a Dawn spokesperson said.