Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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45. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will show in figures the effect on the general Government deficit if EUROSTAT rules that the €240 million declared as an equity investment in the Estimates for Irish Water is not in fact an equity investment and that it must be factored into the general Government deficit. [11205/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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It is expected that the investment will be classified as an equity injection by Eurostat and therefore not impact the general government deficit. Should Eurostat rule the transaction as a capital transfer rather than an equity injection and the government proceed with the investment as previously proposed there would be a negative effect on the projected deficit equal to the size of the investment. All things being equal the figures envisaged for such an outcome are detailed as follows.

In the event that such an injection of capital is not confirmed as equity, it would be for Government to consider the alternative funding options and general government implications in order to meet agreed deficit targets.