Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Finance the plans he has submitted as part of the Stability Programme to the European Commission; if he will publish these plans and present them before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9641/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Stability Programme Update was laid before the House on Friday last and subsequently submitted to the European Commission. This document is also available on the Department of Finance website. The Stability Programme takes account of Budget 2011, the Programme for Government and the Joint EU/IMF Programme. It includes an update of the economic and fiscal outlook for this year and next, along with medium-term macroeconomic and budgetary projections. In summary terms, GDP is projected to increase by 0.8% this year, accelerating to 2.5% next year. A General Government Deficit of 10% of GDP is forecast for this year; on the basis of consolidation measures amounting to €3.6bn and the current macroeconomic outlook, the deficit is projected to decline to 8.6% next year. As with all forecasts, this matter will continue to be kept under revision up to when I present my Budget in December.