Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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I do not know whether the Minister noticed that the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, criticised the Government yesterday for budget commitments to non-Covid expenditure. Appendix 3 sets out the initiative funded under the 2020 winter plan, all of which is worthwhile and I am not questioning. There are measures that we all have wanted to see happen for years, such as an increase in community beds, GP-structured access to diagnostics and community health networks. I understand that these are in some cases putting down the systems that will make Sláintecare possible. However, they seem like fairly long-term commitments and they will add to the base. Has the Minister any response to IFAC's position? Is there a plan for funding it in the long term?