asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the national debt as at the 31st December 1964; and the amount which is required annually to defray both the principal and interest on this sum.

The amount of the national debt and the amount required to service it are computed only at the end of each financial year. It is, therefore, not possible to furnish the information requested by the Deputy. The amount of the national debt at 31st March, 1964, the latest date for which figures are available, was £577 million. The amount which was required for the payment of principal and interest in the year ended 31st March, 1964, was £35.6 million.