Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Finance the expected national debt at the end of 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45551/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Based on the projections in Budget 2009, the National Debt at end 2009 is forecast to be just under €63 billion. This was based on a forecast Exchequer Borrowing Requirement of €11.5 billion in 2008 and €13.4 billion in 2009.

As set out at Budget time, there are clearly a number of risks to the economic and fiscal forecasts for 2009 and the further deterioration in tax receipts in 2008, as seen at the end of November, is evidence of those risks materialising.

While there are negative pressures on the 2009 economic and fiscal outlook, including in relation to the national debt, the Government's objective is to manage this situation responsibly with a view to stabilising the public finances, particularly by bringing the current budget back to balance as soon as possible, while continuing to invest significantly on the capital budget side.