Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Exchequer returns to the end of September show a deficit in excess of €3.1 billion. The Minister hopes the shortfall in the expected returns at year end will amount to approximately €1 billion. Does he have any information that gives him confidence that there will be a windfall over and above the usual upturn in receipts in the last quarter of the year? In the light of the lower than expected tax revenue what options is he considering? For example, will he borrow in order to fund some of the capital projects under the national development plan, rather than cut funding for essential public services?

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