The Government’s budgetary strategy for next year will be to prioritise crisis management measures to deal Covid-19 and Brexit while maintaining existing levels of service in core spending programmes, according to the Minister for Public Expenditure. In an opening statement to the committee he says that this will comprise €2 billion in current expenditure and €1 billion in capital expenditure. “In relation to capital expenditure, we will also ensure that the increase in capital investment set out in the National Development Plan is implemented in order to support the recovery in the economy. Mr McGrath will say given that the challenges posed by Covid-19 will continue into 2021, the health service will be a priority area in the budget next week. The Minister will also say that the additional cost of re-opening schools and colleges against the backdrop of Covid-19 was about €500 million.

Source: The Irish Times October 07, 2020 23:26 UTC