Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said this Budget deals with three pillars: enterprise, a green economy and investment in public services.
He said this positions the country well for the future and is an investment in future generations.
A record Budget package of €17.75bn was announced earlier today, with nearly half of all spending going on Covid-19 supports.
"The question needs to be asked - are we burdening future generations with unsustainable debt levels?"
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 13, 2020
Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD says #Budget2021 addresses enterprise, public services and the green economy, and is an investment in the future | https://t.co/KF2iKYKrwV pic.twitter.com/GE3tT0ogxa
Speaking on RTÉ's Nine News, Mr Martin said the Government is investing a lot in the human capital side in order to invest in the future.
He said this Budget has offered the opportunity to examine what sort of society the country wants after the pandemic.
Mr Martin said the Government is endeavouring to sustain the economy and get enterprise through Covid-19.
Asked if we can be sure that the money being pumped into businesses is money well spent if they do not have a post-Covid future, Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD says "If you support talent that's value for money ... human capital is always the best investment you can make" #Budget2021 pic.twitter.com/SZWSFPh3Ci
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 13, 2020
He said there needs to be a fundamental shift towards a strong, modern reformed health service, a strong education service and move to a green economy.
Thousands of jobs will be created next year, he said, including 16,000 in the health sector and apprenticeships.
Mr Martin said this is all to give young people opportunity.
"Housing is a big priority for this Government ... the criticism from the opposition is that we're still overly reliant on the public sector."
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 13, 2020
Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD says the Government aims to build 50,000 social houses over five years. | https://t.co/eH6WCd1HZP pic.twitter.com/Ew4Ti0gde6
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said this was a Budget to tackle the invisible enemy of Covid-19, while Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath said the essential task was to give hope.
Delivering Budget 2021 from the Convention Centre Dublin, Mr Donohoe said that the country had faced numerous difficulties since independence, but never one like Covid-19.
He said the pandemic was an invisible enemy that had caused great suffering and disrupted so much of what is central to our well-being.
Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson said Budget 2021 has failed to provide certainty for people who needed it.
Speaking in the Convention Centre, Pearse Doherty said that the Budget needed to respond to the threats of Covid-19 and Brexit and give certainty to families.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party's spokesperson on Finance Ged Nash said that a form of austerity is back for those who can least afford to carry it.
