Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising these issues. The revision of the national development plan will take account of the pandemic, our learnings from it and the impact it is likely to have on the development of Ireland in the years ahead. In addition to reviewing the national development plan, we are also preparing a new national economic recovery plan. The intention would be to publish that document in early summer.

On the question of economic supports, as Deputy Ó Murchú knows we have given a commitment that supports will not end abruptly at the end of June. I would anticipate that in the next short number of weeks we will finalise our intentions with regard to vital schemes such as the employment wage subsidy scheme, the Covid restrictions support scheme and others.

In response to Deputy Calleary's point, I wish to highlight again the reforms that are being introduced to the external assurance to strengthen our capability to deliver. He touched on a vital point, namely, the ability to deliver on the national development plan. It is one of the great challenges we face. Money is not always the real constraint; rather, it is the capacity to deliver. We are determined to make improvements in that area.

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