asked the Minister for Finance the proportion of the GNP represented by the current budget deficit in 1980, 1981 and 1982 in Ireland in other EEC countries.
463.
Written Answers. - State Finances.
462.
asked the Minister for Finance the total Government borrowing, for both current and capital purposes, as a proportion of GNP in Ireland; and in other EEC countries, in 1980 and 1981 and the projection for 1982.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.
The figures requested by the Deputy for Ireland are:
|
Current Budget Deficit as % of GNP |
Total Exchequer Borrowing Requirement as % of GNP |
|
|
1980 |
6.4 |
14.2 |
|
1981 |
7.9 |
16.9 |
|
1982 (Budget estimate) |
5.6 |
13.9 |
Directly comparable and comprehensive data on central Government current deficits and borrowing for other EEC countries are not readily available. However, figures on general Government current deficits and borrowing as a proportion of GDP for other EEC countries as published by the EEC Commission are given in the tables below together with comparable Irish figures as estimated by my Department. "General Government" covers local authorities and social security funds as well as central Government, but the Commission figures exclude any loans given to public bodies or the private sector.
General Government Current Budget Deficit as % of GDP
|
1980 |
1981 |
1982* |
|
|
Belgium |
4.6 |
8.0 |
7.2 |
|
Denmark |
2.0 |
6.7 |
8.5 |
|
France |
-3.5 |
-1.1 |
-0.1 |
|
Germany |
-2.3 |
-0.9 |
-1.3 |
|
Greece |
n.a. |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
Ireland |
5.3 |
6.3 |
4.8 |
|
Italy |
3.5 |
6.2 |
5.6 |
|
Luxembourg |
-8.9 |
-8.1 |
-7.5 |
|
Netherlands |
-2.0 |
-1.5 |
-1.9 |
|
United Kingdom |
2.5 |
0.1 |
-1.0 |
General Government Borrowing as % of GDP
|
1980 |
1981 |
1982* |
|
|
Belgium |
9.4 |
13.3 |
12.0 |
|
Denmark |
5.9 |
10.7 |
12.1 |
|
France |
-0.4 |
2.1 |
3.0 |
|
Germany |
3.5 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
|
Greece |
n.a. |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
Ireland |
13.1 |
15.2 |
13.0 |
|
Italy |
7.8 |
10.6 |
10.3 |
|
Luxembourg |
1.8 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
|
Netherlands |
3.4 |
4.1 |
3.7 |
|
United Kingdom |
3.5 |
2.5 |
1.3 |
Minus figures indicate a surplus.
*Forecast.
464.
asked the Minister for Finance what he expects the opening current budget deficit for 1983 to be.
The opening current budget deficit for 1983 will as usual be set out in the White Paper on Receipts and Expenditure which will be published shortly before the 1983 budget is introduced. I am not prepared to speculate as to what the figure will be. It will depend, inter alia, on the decisions to be taken by the Government on the 1983 Estimates.