asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of Ireland's external reserves, expressed in months' cover for imports, for each of the past ten years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - External Reserves.
11.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
External Assets of the Banking System and Departmental Funds as at 31st December |
Merchandise Imports for calendar year |
1 as percentage of 2 |
Months' cover |
|
|
£ million |
||||
|
1958 |
205.8 |
199.0 |
103.4 |
12.4 |
|
1959 |
210.2 |
212.6 |
98.9 |
11.9 |
|
1960 |
209.9 |
226.2 |
92.8 |
11.1 |
|
1961 |
224.5 |
261.4 |
85.9 |
10.3 |
|
1962 |
234.0 |
273.7 |
85.5 |
10.3 |
|
1963 |
236.9 |
307.7 |
77.0 |
9.2 |
|
1964 |
242.1 |
349.3 |
69.3 |
8.3 |
|
1965 |
224.1 |
371.8 |
60.3 |
7.2 |
|
1966 |
253.5 |
372.6 |
68.0 |
8.2 |
|
1967 |
295.1 |
390.5 |
75.6 |
9.1 |
|
1968 (a) |
290.5 (15th October) |
470.9* |
61.7 |
7.4 |
*12 months to 31st October.
(a) Prior to 1968 the Central Bank did not include in the external reserves the value of its gold holdings. In terms of months' cover for imports in earlier years the difference is not significant.