-external: $11 billion (1998)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $153 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1--0.6815 (January
1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996), 0.6235 (1995),
0.6676 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 0.78764 Irish pounds per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)

Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0

Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are 36
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 1,947 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km
double track) (1996)

Highways:
total: 92,500 km
paved: 87,042 km (including 80 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,458 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: limited for commercial traffic

Pipelines: natural gas 225 km

Ports and harbors: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes,
Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford

Merchant marine:
total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,284 GRT/117,652 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, container 2 (1998 est.)

Airports: 44 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps),
National Police (Garda Siochana)

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 974,226 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 790,155 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 33,810 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $771 million (1997)