Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy put a question to me about NAMA. While we are unclear about what the exact figure will be, we are anticipating that it will be approximately €1.5 billion. The figure for this year was in the region of €2 billion.

Regarding the deployment of the €9 billion, the vast majority of that has now been released in the way we anticipated because so much of it is driven through the TWSS, the pandemic unemployment payment and the cost involved in the acquisition of items such as personal protective equipment, PPE. That is being spent in the way we anticipated. Obviously, one of the things we will be working to understand, particularly across November and December when Departments look to deliver the expenditure commitments they have committed to, is ensuring that all of the money we made a commitment to spend is spent.

I am particularly aware, given the prevailing economic circumstances, that spending that kind of money may make a big difference to people's lives, their incomes and even their jobs, given the many other existing pressures.