Public Private Partnerships Cost

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019

Wednesday, 27 March 2019

Questions (95)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

95. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach if the total liability in public-private partnerships is recognised as debt in the national accounts or if it is included in the public sector net debt. [14416/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

General Government Gross Debt (or Maastricht Debt) is defined as debt liabilities of government in the categories Currency and Deposits, Debt Securities and Loans. Its compilation is the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) who publish annual and quarterly estimates on the CSO website. Liabilities related to public-private partnerships (PPPs) which are classified off-balance sheet are not recorded as part of the General Government Gross Debt. The CSO do not compile a public sector net debt figure. The General Government Net Debt figure published by the CSO comprises General Government Gross Debt less government assets recorded under the same instrument categories as those contributing to General Government Gross Debt. Therefore it does not include liabilities of off-balance sheet PPPs.