Recent corporation tax receipts have demonstrated that the Irish economy is rebounding strongly from the shocks of Covid-19 and indeed Brexit, as the Taoiseach alluded to in an earlier response. However, it is a two-track recovery, with businesses in the technology, pharma and financial services doing extremely well, while many businesses in the hospitality, entertainment and event sectors are struggling. The Government's commitment to these sectors and their employees is appreciated. However, the latest round of restrictions is having a significant impact on these businesses. Can the Taoiseach provide an update on recent engagements with these sectors and an indication of when targeted supports will be introduced?

First, the economy is recovering faster overall than any other in the European Union. One just has to look at the tax receipts which were, for the first 11 months of this year, over €62 billion. That is more than €5.3 billion ahead of target. The budget deficit this year is said to be much smaller than forecast, one of the smallest in European Union. This is basically good policy at work. It is interesting that there are 30,800 job vacancies now in the third quarter, compared to 17,900 in the same time period two years ago. Many job vacancies are out there at the moment. In respect of the sectors of the economy that have been worst affected as a result of restrictions I, along with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, met with approximately 30 or 40 representatives of the hospitality sector and the live entertainment, music and theatre groups. We are going to go back to them with bespoke models to assist them to keep theatres open, to keep artists performing and to support the ongoing work in hospitality.

I want to follow up with the Taoiseach’s reference to his meeting with the hospitality sector yesterday, along with his ministerial colleagues. It is a huge sector for employment. It is very much about maintaining that link with their employees. We have a large hospitality sector in Limerick and in the midwest. I want to follow up with the Taoiseach on his discussions yesterday. When does he expect those to be concluded? When does he expect that the scheme will be announced, particularly considering the CRSS and the link with the employees? When will these businesses see money in their bank accounts in terms of State support so that we can keep that link with employees and so they can come through this latest difficulty with Covid-19 restrictions?

To be fair, the Government has not been found wanting in supporting sectors in the economy since the beginning of the pandemic. Now, in this fourth wave of the pandemic, given the overall fact that there is a lot of activity in the economy, we have to tailor-make our responses into the future. Economy-wide measures in themselves could end up supporting sectors that do not necessarily need supports. This is an evolving situation. The Minister of Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has devised amendments and adjustments to the CRSS programme, designed for the current situation. He is refining and fine tuning those. Likewise, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, is working on the entertainment side, with the theatre and arts groups, keeping venues open, and trying to keep performers performing, whilst making them viable in doing so. That is challenging because it is a very diverse group. That is the kind of work that is under way at the moment.

When?

In the next number of days.