asked the Minister for Finance the estimated ratio of Government and State body debt service to merchandise exports in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 based on Budget estimates.
Written Answers. - Foreign Debt Service.
432.
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the Government and State body foreign debt service. On this basis the information requested is as follows:
1977, 5.2%; 1978, 5.9%; 1979, 5.9%; 1980, 6.9%; 1981, 8.6%; 1982, 12.0%.
The 1982 figure is based on the foreign debt outstanding at end May 1982 and is subject to a number of major uncertainties, chiefly in regard to the development of international trade and prices in our external markets. All of the figures take into account interest payments to nonresident holders of domestic Government securities.