asked the Minister for Communications if he will indicate the total borrowing of (1) Telecom Éireann, (2) An Post and (3) RTÉ: if all this borrowing was approved by him; if he will give in each case the total assets to set against these borrowings; and if he has satisfied himself with the existing state of the balance sheet in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Total Borrowing.
11.
The information available to me on this subject concerning the bodies in question is contained in their annual reports and accounts which have been accepted by the Government and copies of which have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In the case of An Post and RTÉ these relate to the year ended 31 December 1988 and in the case of Bord Telecom Éireann to the year ended 30 March 1989.
Does the Minister have the figures and, if so, would he give them to us?
As of 31 December 1989, An Post's borrowing approved by the Minister for Communications and the Minister for Finance in accordance with section 27 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, 1983, stood at £10.5 million. The fixed assets of the company at that date were £60.118 million, current assets were £41.358 million and total assets were £101.476 million, current liabilities — including the £10.5 million borrowing — were £54.141 million and net assets were £47.335 million. As of 31 March 1989, An Bord Telecom's borrowing was £1,149,849,000 approved by the Minister for Communications and the Minister for Finance in accordance with sections 27 and 28 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, 1983. The assets of the company at that date totalled £1,593,381,000, total assets less current liabilities were £1,313,353,000. RTÉs annual report and accounts to 31 December 1988 are the latest published figures. The total borrowings at that date were: bank overdraft £342,000 and repayable Exchequer advances £16,225,000, making a total of £16,567,000. All borrowings have been approved by the Minister, net assets to set against borrowings totalled £33.734 million and the state of the balance sheet is considered satisfactory.
A brief question from Deputy Mitchell.
Are all these figures included in the public sector borrowing requirement and, if so, will the Minister state the nature of the guarantees in respect of this and what liabilities might accrue to the Exchequer?
That is a separate question but, as the Deputy is aware, these are all semi-State bodies for which, in the long run, the State has a degree of responsibility.