Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the borrowing requirements for 2021, the Department has stated its intention to reach a deficit of between 4.5% and 5.5% of GDP on a no-policy-change basis. I seek clarification on this. What is this deficit range in nominal terms? In saying this is on a no-policy-change basis, does that include the €9 billion in Covid-related expenditure? With regard to funding the borrowing, in 2020 part of the deficit was funded through cash transfers, for example, an Exchequer transfer of €2 billion from the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. Will a portion of the 2021 deficit be funded through other cash transfers and, if so, what are they? The Minister mentioned, and has previously stated, that we must stay within the pack of EU member states in the context of deficit levels. In announcing his budgetary strategy, he stated that the objective is to ensure that Ireland's deficit position remains within average euro levels. Is he aware of what the deficit levels will be in other EU member states next year?