Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance the total cash value of investments in the national solidarity ten-year bond as offered by the National Treasury Management Agency; the plans that are in place to increase the uptake of this bond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14123/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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"NTMA State Savings" is the brand name used by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) to describe the range of savings products offered by the NTMA to personal savers. The 4-year and 10-year National Solidarity Bonds are part of this range of NTMA State Savings products which also includes Prize Bonds, Savings Bonds, Savings Certificates, Instalment Savings, and Deposit Accounts (such as the Ordinary Deposit Account and the Deposit Account Plus) and are available through the post office network.

The 10-year National Solidarity Bond was launched a year ago in May 2010 and the 4-year National Solidarity Bond was launched four months ago in February 2011.

I understand from the NTMA that, as of Friday 03 June 2011, 22,000 customers have purchased the National Solidarity Bonds to the value of €479 million, of which €421 million was placed in the 10 year bond and €58 million in the 4 year bond.

The NTMA have indicated that it will continue to encourage personal savers to purchase the National Solidarity Bonds and all the other NTMA State Savings products.