Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 6

Written Answers. - National Debt/GNP Ratio.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

45 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline (1) the amount of the national debt (2) the amount of this which is (a) domestic and (b) foreign and (3) the currencies in which the debt is denominated; and if he will outline the estimate by his Department of the debt/GNP ratio for the year ending 31 December 1991.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

The latest estimate for the national debt relates to the end of September 1991. I propose to circulate in the Official Report the following two tables setting out the information sought at (1), (2) and (3) of the question.

TABLE 1

£m
Date	Total National Debt	Irish Pound Debt	Foreign Currency Debt
30/9/91	25,705	16,899	8,806

TABLE II

Currency Composition of Foreign Debt
£m
US Dollars	1,258
Deutsche Mark	2,968
Swiss Franc	2,541
Yen	733
Sterling	110
Dutch Guilder	511
ECU	539
Belg./Lux Franc	125
French Franc	21
Total	8,806

It is not the practice to provide forecasts of the national debt and I am therefore unable to furnish an estimate of the Debt/GNP ratio for 31 December 1991.