Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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On the status of the live register and projections for it, it is a completely different thing from the discussion we are having on the so-called hidden fiscal space. The Deputy is correct about the forecast for the live register. We look at this point in the year for next year. In response to the questions Deputy Lahart put to me a moment ago, I tried to explain that the hidden fiscal space is really the idea about finding efficiencies in respect of money we are spending. Deputy Burton will know that each year we look at what we expect the live register to be for the following year in the context of how the labour market has been improving over the previous few months.

In respect of the Deputy's question about the self-employed, I am not expecting any big difference beyond what we have laid down in the profile for October, November and December. Any increase that we receive has to be in the context of the fact that the income tax receipts for this year were €220 million or 1.8% below profile by the end of August. Any change in self-employed tax receipts will be placed in the context of closing the gap for total income tax collection.