A report from NCB Stockbrokers has predicted that Ireland will not be able to raise all the money it needs in 2014 without external help.
NCB economist Brian Devine said Ireland was likely to receive help from the EU to meet its needs after 2013. But he said this was more likely to be in the form of a "precautionary" programme, rather than another full-blown three-year package along the lines of the current bail-out.
Ireland is fully funded by the EU/IMF programme up to the end of 2013.
But Mr Devine points out that a 2014 sovereign bond of €11.9 billion is due to be repaid on January 15 2014. He says that if Ireland has not re-entered the debt market at the end of 2013, its cash reserves would be almost completely depleted.
Last week, the National Treasury Management Agency played down suggestions that Ireland would require a second bail-out, adding that it hoped to borrow money for short periods in the middle of this year and sell longer-term bonds at the end of 2012.
Kenny defends official growth forecast
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he believes a Department of Finance estimate for a growth rate of 1.3% for this year can be achieved.
He was responding to Independent TD Shane Ross, who said a number of independent commentators had downgraded their growth forecasts for the year to around 0.5%
Deputy Ross said the department had a long tradition of 'puffing' prospects for the economy. He asked if the Government had a contingency plan in the event of not reaching targeted growth rates as it would affect our deficit targets.
