Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance if the trends in Exchequer returns to date give confidence that the end year targets will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11595/10]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the February 2010 Exchequer returns which show a revenue shortfall of more than €1 billion compared to the same period in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11629/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the various revenue receipts are in accord with predictions or otherwise; the steps he has taken to address emerging issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11879/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 106 and 157 together.

The end-February Exchequer Returns, published on 2 March, were generally in line with expectations. At end-February 2010, the Exchequer deficit was €2,407 million compared to €2,085 million at end-February 2009. In terms of tax revenue performance, €4,736 million in tax receipts were collected by the end of February, against a target of €4,800 million. This means that tax receipts for the first two months of the year were €64 million below target.

My Department published monthly targets for tax revenue earlier this year and while tax receipts collected in the first two months were about €1 billion less than the same period last year, this had been anticipated. A significant year-on-year decline is expected in the initial months of 2010, with tax revenues forecast to end the year 6% down on 2009, as the economy shows signs of positive growth during the second half of this year. Total net voted expenditure at end-February 2010 was €7,191 million, representing a decline of some €800 million or 10.2% on the same period in 2009. This significant year-on-year reduction reflects both the expenditure policy changes implemented over the past year or so and timing issues. The Revised Estimates Volume, published on 18 February, projected a 1.9% reduction in total net voted spending for the year as a whole.

The end-February Exchequer Returns show that the action taken by Government in managing the public finances is working. At this stage of the year I have no reason to adjust the revenue targets. My Department will, as is usual, have a press conference setting out the first quarter Exchequer Returns in early April. The Government is committed to the targets set out in the recent Budget. As economic growth returns during the course of the year, this will assist in the ongoing improvement in the public finances.