Department of Finance – new research on public finances

The Department of Finance published two papers last Thursday, 15 April, which aim to enhance and develop the Department’s fiscal sustainability framework. The papers expand fiscal analysis to the entire public sector while monitoring potential liabilities of Government recorded off-balance sheet. 

The first paper, ‘Ireland’s Public Sector Balance Sheet’ provides the most comprehensive picture of public wealth to-date, accounting entirely for what the State owns and owes by bringing together all the accumulated assets and liabilities which the Government controls.

The second paper, ‘Contingent Liabilities – an overview’, provides a detailed insight into contingent and other off-balance sheet liabilities which have the potential to result in future fiscal costs for the Government. This analysis includes some of the measures associated with the Government’s wider response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

More information is available in the Department of Finance press release.