Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the Exchequer returns for the first nine months of 2005. [26627/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I have issued a press statement regarding the end-September Exchequer returns, which is available on my Department's website. The results to the end of the third quarter indicate that the public finances remain in a sound position. Tax revenue, at €26,440, million is €1 billion ahead of profile at end September. Year on year tax receipts were up 7.5% compared to the profiled increase of 3.4% to end September 2005. The main excesses are on VAT, €351 million, stamps, €348 million, income tax, including receipts from Revenue's special investigations, €300 million and excise, €181 million, while corporation tax is €281 million below profile. Overall net voted spending was €24,670 million at end September compared to €22,685 million for the same period last year, an increase of 9%. This was €916 million below the profile published in January and compares to the planned increase of 11% for the year as a whole provided for in the Revised Estimates.