Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance the figures provided by the Revenue Commissioners in the preparation of the 2008 tax forecasts; and the reason his Department used their own higher figures. [26409/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As happens every year, the Revenue Commissioners supplied my Department with a tax forecast for the following three years in the run-up to the Budget. Revenue prepared this forecast in October and November of last year based on the technical position set out by my Department.

All Budget forecasts, including tax and economic, are prepared by my Department. In doing so, my Department takes the Revenue Commissioners' forecasts into consideration and is in regular consultation with Revenue about the evolving trends. In addition to taking Revenue's view, changes in the prevailing economic outlook are also taken on board before the finalisation of the Department's tax forecasts, which are then published in the Budget.