Surplus to requirements

Sir, – It is heartening to see the Government record a substantial surplus of €11.2 billion for 2025. Would it not be prudent to use a large portion of this surplus to reduce our national debt of €209.9 billion thereby saving us approximately €20 million in interest for every extra €1 billion repaid – Yours, etc,

JOE TUMMON,

Circular Road,

Galway.

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Sir, – Two headlines in today’s (April 21st) Irish Times: “Dublin Council to borrow €36.5m to fund additional affordable homes at O’Devaney Gardens” and “State surplus set to grow to €9bn, Government forecast shows”.

I am neither an economist nor an accountant but I fail to see why, if I was planning to buy a house and I had 246x the purchase price in the bank, I would resort to borrowing?

Am I missing something? – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL JEFFERS,

Naas,

Co Kildare.