Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the Exchequer returns for the first nine months of 2006. [33095/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Exchequer Returns to end-September were published on my Department's website on 4th October, together with my Press Statement.

The Exchequer Returns to end-September showed a deficit of €136 million, compared with a deficit of €1,123 million for the same period last year and a Budget Day forecast of an Exchequer Deficit of €2,927 million for 2006 as a whole.

Tax receipts to end-September, at €29,659 million were up 12.2 per cent on the same period last year and were €1,807 million or 6.5 per cent ahead of profile. The best performers were Stamp Duty (€687m above) Corporation Tax (€321m above), Capital Taxes (€317m above) and VAT (€296m above). All other tax heads are also above profile.

Overall issues for net voted expenditure for September 2006 were up €2,412 million or 9.8 per cent as compared to September 2005. Net voted expenditure at end-September was €1,039 million or 3.7 per cent below the published profiles, with capital €366 million below and current €674 million below.

The figures to end-September confirm that the public finances are in a sound position thanks to the prudent fiscal policies pursued by this Government. Overall, tax revenue is significantly ahead of profile, and public expenditure is within the targets set for it. These results combined with recent CSO data show that the Irish economy continues to perform well ahead of our EU partners.

It is important that we put this economic performance to good use by building up our infrastructure, maintaining our competitiveness and ensuring a fairer distribution of society's resources. These will be among my aims for the forthcoming Budget.