Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the school secretaries, the matter has been subject to discussion and negotiation. The Government, including the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, wants to resolve this. The matter has been subject to a process. We want to resolve it. It is important that it be resolved.

On Deputy Michael Collins's points, I will talk to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. There is a broader programme and the Government has allocated substantial funding for pier renewal and development and will make further allocations in that respect.

On Deputy Colm Burke's question, because the vaccination programme has been so successful, the types of supports that are available under the TAP scheme are not required as much as they were. I have to make a general point on this. When the summer economic statement is produced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, in a week or two, Members will get a sense of where we want to be fiscally over the next five years. The deficit has been extraordinary over the past two years. There will come a time when we have to transition to investment as opposed to subsidising every sector continually. That is on the condition that we emerge from Covid-19. A real balance has to be struck and we need to invest in new sectors, jobs and activities. There will come a period when we will have to transition from our current position to a newer one.

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