There are three Deputies who have yet to contribute. If they will ask their questions in 30 seconds, we will go to the Taoiseach for a collective response. Deputy Bríd Smith.

My question concerns the importance of social dialogue. I want to say that it is ironic that the State continues to treat many groups of workers appallingly. One key group is that of school secretaries, who do myriad jobs and who, during Covid, were heroic in keeping the schools open and being on the front line. Yet, questions remain unanswered about how social dialogue is treating them.

Will school secretaries have to sign on for social welfare once again this summer? Why is there a delay in the WRC talks on this issue when there was strike action that brought about progress? Will the Taoiseach guarantee that school secretaries will be placed on Civil Service scales in September?

I will try to cut to the chase. At Keelbeg, Union Hall, the Department funded the construction of a new pier in 1994 and 1995 under the then fishery harbour development programme. The pier has served the fishing community well, and landing values rated the pier above Howth and Rossaveal. The pier reached capacity in recent years but it has not been possible to advance plans for future growth in the way it has been for other harbours. A sum of €210,000 is needed for a feasibility study. The Taoiseach was in the area recently. From what I hear, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, is going down in late July. Is it possible that his Department could make the funding available and that the Minister could make an announcement in this regard in Union Hall when he visits?

I wish to raise the temporary assistance payment, TAP, scheme for nursing homes, which ceased on 30 June. The costs incurred by nursing homes have increased substantially over the past 18 months because of Covid-19. Those costs remain in place. I ask that the Government considers seriously the extension of the scheme. The UK has continued to extend additional support to all its nursing homes.

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.