Irish economy likely grows by at least 6.2 pct in 2015: PM

Ireland is forecast to be the fastest growing economy in Europe again in 2015, according to Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Monday.

"Today, Ireland is the fastest-growing economy in Europe. Since the end of the bailout in 2013, our economy in real GDP grew by 5.2 percent in 2014," Kenny said at the publication of the government annual report.

"In 2015, it is likely to have grown by at least a further 6.2 percent," he said.

Kenny said government borrowing fell from 11 percent of GDP in 2010 to less than 2 percent last year.

Unemployment is down from a peak of over 15 percent to now 8.8 percent, he said.

He also said his country has already returned to the international bond markets.

But the Irish prime minister said the progress is not enough, though it is good and welcoming.

"For some families there is still too much anxiety, too much worry about making ends meet," he said.

"Unemployment, while falling, still remains too high. Our public finances are still not fully repaired. Our public services and infrastructure need more investment," he added.

Kenny said the economic recovery remains fragile and incomplete.

"There is so much more work to do to get where we want and need to be, as a country, an economy, a society," he said. Enditem