Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the extent to which the national debt is expected to be affected by internal or external events in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2749/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined in the Budget in December the total cost of servicing the national debt in 2008 is projected at €2,490 million. This forecast was based on my Department's Budget 2008 arithmetic. As such both the estimate of the cost of servicing the national debt and the estimate of the actual level of debt at the end of the year remain valid.

My Department will, of course, closely monitor the national debt and the cost of servicing it throughout the year.

Finally, I would remind the Deputy that the debt-to-GDP ratio, at around 26 per cent, will be one of the lowest in the euro area this year.