asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount of sterling balances held by: (a) the Irish Banks; (b) the Central Bank; and (c) by the general public, on 31st December, 1938 and 31st December, 1946.
Written Answers. - Sterling Balances.
The meaning of the expression "sterling balances" as used in the question is not clear. I indicated in my Budget speeches last year and this year the extent of the growth of our external assets since 1939. Otherwise I am not in a position to supplement the information already available in the published accounts of the commercial banks and of the Central Bank, in the quarterly bulletins of the Central Bank, and in the statements on the balance of payments published annually in the Irish Trade Journal.