Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - General Government Debt.

Ivor Callely

Question:

91 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the total debt of the Irish State and of each of the commercial semi-State companies; the amount of this debt for each held in Irish currency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11617/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

General Government debt, which includes the debt of local authorities, health boards and other non commercial semi-State bodies is the most appropriate measure of calculating the total debt of the Irish State. The latest date for which figures are available is 31 December 1995. As at that date the General Government debt stood at £32,709 million of which £21,794 million or 67 per cent was denominated in Irish pounds with the remaining £10,915 million denominated in a range of foreign currencies.

The total debt of the commercial semi-State companies at 31 December 1995 amounted to IR£5,801 million. Of this £4,790 million or 83 per cent was denominated in Irish currency with the residual, amounting to £1,012 million, denominated in foreign currencies.

It should be noted that these figures are not additive because there is some overlap between the debt of the general Government sector and the debt of the commercial semi-State bodies. For example, borrowings of the Housing Finance Agency which are counted as part of the commercial semi-State debt become part of the general Government debt when drawn by the local authorities.

The details in respect of the individual companies are set out in the following schedule.

Debt of Commercial Semi-State Companies

Company Name	Domestic Debt	Foreign Debt	Total Debt
	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)
ACC Bank plc	1,128.88	80.78	1,209.66
Air Co.s	40.43	331.70	372.13
Aer Rianta	36.90	0.00	36.90
Bord Gais Éireann	195.30	12.11	207.40
Bord na Móna	168.86	22.05	190.91
CIE	131.80	38.70	170.50
Coillte	32.70	0.00	32.70
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board	9.97	0.00	9.97
ESB	669.60	260.20	929.80
Housing Finance Agency	485.00	22.80	507.80
Irish Aviation Authority	0.00	0.00	0.00
ICC Bank Plc	904.00	186.00	1,090.00
Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd.	1.23	18.57	19.80
Irish Steel Ltd.	21.29	9.03	30.32
Irish Telecommunications Investments plc	761.70	27.70	788.40
National Building Agency	0.52	0.00	0.52
Nitrigin Éireann Teoranta	186.74	0.00	186.74
An Post	2.70	0.00	2.70
RTE	1.08	0.00	1.08
Temple Bar Properties Ltd.	11.32	3.16	14.48
Total	4,790.01	1,011.79	5,801.80