asked the Minister for Finance the excess of money borrowed by the Government from banks this year over the amount borrowed by the Government from the same source last year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Borrowing from Banks.
12.
The amount borrowed by the Government from banks to date in the current financial year exceeds by £17.3 million the amount borrowed from the same sources in the corresponding period last year.
In view of the solemn warning given by the banks yesterday in regard to the Government figures in this respect, will the Minister give an undertaking that steps will be taken to reduce the overdraw from the banks?
Steps are being taken for this purpose.
Will the Minister, in view of his answer last week that he would not agree that there is less money now available for the private sector, now agree that that is so since he has borrowed £17.3 million more this year than he did last year?
Bank lending has been increasing ——
The Minister now agrees that what he refused to agree with last week is correct—that there is less money available for the private sector.
I am not accepting the Deputy's figures for the private sector: I have not got those figures before me.