Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We know the SES is outdated, and was outdated even as it was being published because the factors that were known at the time were not factored into it. The SES outlines the budgetary package of €4.7 billion for next year and considers a deficit of, I understand, 3.4% for 2022. Dr. Casey said that on the last page of the report, the council outlined its prediction for the deficit. Can he repeat those figures? We know that, for example, instead of a deficit of €20 billion for this year we are likely to see a figure of €15 billion. For next year, with the budgetary package outlined in the SES, what was it intended to be nominally? What is the view of the council, given the different factors, including the stronger recovery, the buoyancy and tax which will carry on to 2022, of what the deficit figure would be?