asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of (a) interest payments and (b) capital repayments in respect of servicing the external debt in 1980, 1981 and 1982.
Written Answers. - State Finances.
The figures requested by the Deputy for 1980 and 1981 are:
(a) Interest Payments |
(b) Capital Repayments |
|
(£m) |
(£m) |
|
1980 |
164.0 |
83.0 |
1981 |
250.0 |
158.0 |
The cost in 1982 of servicing the outstanding external debt is currently estimated to be:
£m |
|
Interest payments |
479 |
Capital repayments |
423 |
205.
asked the Minister for Finance the proportion of public sector borrowing requirements financed externally, with estimates where necessary, for 1980, 1981 and 1982.
The figures for 1980 and 1981 requested by the Deputy are: 1980 — 60%; 1981 — 64%.
It is not possible at this stage to provide an estimate for 1982 because the distribution of borrowings in 1982 between domestic and foreign will be decided from time to time during the year having regard to the Exchequer's financing needs, sales of domestic securities, inflows from small savings schemes and the position of the external reserves.
The percentages given above take account of sales of Government securities denominated in Irish pounds to non-residents as well as foreign currency borrowings by the Exchequer and State Bodies.
206.
asked the Minister for Finance the total Exchequer borrowing requirements for current and capital purposes; the total as a percentage of gross national product in 1979, 1980, 1981 (post-January budget estimate), 1981 (post-July budget estimate), 1982 (post-January budget estimate) and 1982 (post-March budget estimate).
The figures requested by the Deputy are:
Exchequer Borrowing |
||||
Requirement for |
Total Exchequer Borrowing Requirement |
|||
(i) Current purposes |
(ii) Capital purposes |
Total EBR as a % of GNP |
||
(£m) |
(£m) |
(£m) |
||
1979 |
522 |
487 |
1009 |
13.6% |
1980 |
547 |
670 |
1217 |
14.2% |
1981 (post-January budget estimate) |
515 |
781 |
1296 |
13.0% |
1981 (post-July budget estimate) |
787 |
850 |
1637 |
16.5% |
1982 (post-January budget estimate) |
715 |
946 |
1661 |
13.8% |
1982 (post-March budget estimate) |
679 |
1004 |
1683 |
13.9% |
207.
asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of foreign debt which will fall due for repayment in the next five years.
The percentage of Exchequer foreign debt which will fall due for repayment in the next five years is currently estimated to be 46 per cent.
208.
asked the Minister for Finance the balance of payments deficit in 1979, 1980 and 1981; and if he will express the deficits as a percentage of GNP.
The information requested is as follows:
Balance of Payments Deficit |
Deficit as Percentage of GNP |
|
£m |
% |
|
1979 |
727 |
9.8 |
1980 |
725¹ |
8.5¹ |
1981 |
1300² |
13¹ |
1 Provisional,
2 Department of Finance Estimates.
209.
asked the Minister for Finance the total foreign borrowings of the Irish Exchequer and State sector in 1980 and 1981; and the official foreign reserves of the State for 1980 and 1981.
The figures requested by the Deputy are:
(i) Foreign Borrowing — 1980 — £941 million; 1981 — £1,425.5 million. These figures include sales of domestic Government securities to non-residents.
(ii) Official foreign reserves at end of year — 1980 — £1,346 million; 1981 — £1,473.1 million.
210.
asked the Minister for Finance the payments of interest made in 1981 on the national debt as a percentage of each pound of income tax revenue in 1981.
The figure requested by the Deputy is 76 per cent.