Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of expenditure in 2022 that has been allocated in relation to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2547/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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An amount of €7 billion was made available in Budget 2022 to provide for measures to mitigate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Of this amount, €3.1 billion has already been allocated at Departmental level in the 2022 Revised Estimates, including €0.2 billion for projects funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This allocation includes provision for: 

- €1.1 billion in the  Department of Social Protection including for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, and for additional job-seekers payments;

- €0.8 billion for the Department of Health’s continued response to Covid-19;

- €0.3 billion for the Education sector between the Department of Education and the Department of  Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide for measures including additional higher education and training places, student supports, and the continued safe operation of schools;

- €0.2 billion for the Department of Transport to support the operation of public transport given reduced passenger numbers; and

- measures totalling over €0.2 billion across the Department of Tourism, Culture Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media including to assist the tourism and hospitality sectors address the impacts of the pandemic, and to support a sustainable live entertainment sector.

A further €3.9 billion in Covid-19 contingency funding remains held in reserve, to be allocated if required during the year for targeted measures to address challenges caused by the pandemic. Within this are specific amounts totalling almost €1.2 billion that have been earmarked for potential requirements in the Education and Health sectors and for Covid-19 related labour market impacts. This contingency funding will be used to support our economy and society over the coming year and will be allocated as the situation with the pandemic evolves, including where necessary for additional costs arising from the extension of key income and employment support schemes as announced in December.