Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018
128. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Finance if figures are available that measure the level of credit card debt to household income; if so, the detail of same in each of the years 2011 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Central Bank of Ireland does not publish data on the level of credit card debt. However, the Household Finance and Consumption Survey 2013, which was carried out by the CSO on behalf of the Central Bank of Ireland provides a snap shot of credit card debt in Ireland. The survey, which was published in January 2015, shows that the median value of credit card debt for households was €1,400 in 2013 or around 4.1 per cent of median household disposable income.
While data on credit card debt is very limited, the Central Bank of Ireland regularly publishes data on broader measures of household debt. Over the period 2011 to the second quarter of 2017, short-term loans of Households and Non-profit Institutions serving Households fell from €7.9 billion or around 9.1 per cent of disposable income to €3.9 billion or around 3.9 per cent of disposable income.
This improvement reflects both a decline in the value of debt outstanding and solid growth in disposable income which has averaged 2.7 per cent over the period 2012 to the second quarter of 2017.
