asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of the national debt as of the 31 January 1988 or the latest date for which figures are available; the projected amount of national debt expected as of 31 December 1989; the cost to the State; and the amount by which the current budget deficit would be increased if (a) national interest rates and (b) international interest rates increased by (i) 1 per cent (ii) 2 per cent and (iii) 3 per cent.
Written Answers. - National Debt.
78.
The national debt at 31 December 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, was £24.6 billion (provisional). The cost of servicing the national debt in 1989 is estimated at £2,244 million. It is not the practice to provide forecasts of the national debt and the impact of changes in interest rates on debt service costs would depend on the timing and duration of these changes, the timing and composition of borrowing and other factors.