With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
Since Irish national accounts are not complied for sub-annual periods, macroeconomic forecasts are prepared only on a calendar year basis. Consequently, there is no official projection of the growth rate of the economy to mid-1980. Deputy Desmond is incorrect in suggesting that the latest estimate by the OECD is for a growth rate of 1 per cent from mid-1979 to mid-1980. The figure should be 2 per cent.
Given the unfavourable international and domestic developments this year, the Government's target of an annual growth rate of 6½ per cent is not likely to be achieved. Growth is likely to be of the order of 4 per cent.