Budget 2021: Ministers want to 'give hope' to the country

The Finance Minister has said he is "keenly aware of the concerns, anxiety that many have regarding the future", adding that he hopes to address many uncertainties in Budget 2021.

Speaking this morning, ahead of the unveiling of the document later, Paschal Donohoe said: "We understand that the air of uncertainty that we have now at the moment, despite all the work that we've done in trying to beat this terrible disease, is one that has such a big impact on families. It has such a big impact on the ability to keep and create jobs in the future."

The Fine Gael TD added: "What we have done today is put together a Budget that aims to respond back to that uncertainty. It aims to recognise where we are and by drawing upon the strengths that our economy has and the qualities that our society has created a really important and strong framework for our country for the rest of 2020 and for 2021.

"It's about how we protect lives. It's also about how we put the resources in place to protect and to secure livelihoods. And that's what this Budget is about today."

The Budget will be delivered by Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath at the Dail sitting at Dublin's convention centre this afternoon.

Speaking on his way into this morning's Cabinet meeting, Mr McGrath said it was a "very significant day".

He added that he and the Finance Minister wanted to "give hope" to people that the country "will come through this really difficult period" and "confidence in the fact that we are going to be providing a record level of public expenditure investment and support".

"We hope that that will help to sustain a high level of social solidarity across this period," Mr McGrath said.

The Fianna Fáil TD added that he hoped that people would see that the Government has "done its best in really extraordinary circumstances".

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the Budget included a very large investment in community-based care, which he said was something which is core to universal care, moving to a "more modern healthcare system in line with Slaintecare".

The Fianna Fáil TD added that it was also about access to care.

"We are going to build the permanent capacity right across the system," Mr Donnelly said.

"We're very cognisant that there are far too many people waiting for care."

Meanwhile, hear what Cork publicans want from Budget 2021 here: