Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Finance the areas in respect of which Revenue for the current to date is not up to expectations; those sectors which have exceeded expectations or have shown greater potential for the future; the extent to which he can expect to see any improvement in performances where necessary in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50797/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As detailed in the supplementary information published with the end-October Exchequer statement on 2 November, income tax, VAT, corporation tax, stamp duty and capital gains tax are all ahead of profile. Excise duty, capital acquisitions tax and customs duty are behind profile. The supplementary information contains a table which shows the exact performance of each tax head, both compared to profile and as a year on year basis, and on both a monthly and cumulative basis. It is encouraging that three of the big four tax sources of revenue are ahead of expectations at end-October. As outlined in the medium-term fiscal statement published yesterday, the Department of Finance is of the view that tax revenues for the year as a whole will be broadly in line with profile, with the possibility of a marginal surplus, of the order of €0.2 billion (0.5%) being recorded. Much will depend on the performance of tax revenues in November. It is the most important month of the year for income tax and corporation tax and it is also the last VAT “due” month of the year. All told, close to €5.7 billion or 16% of the total tax expected this year is profiled for collection in the month. Good performances are required from each of these three taxes if the annual aggregate target for taxes is to be achieved. As regards 2013, we expect that the minor 2012 tax revenue surplus will have beneficial impacts for the base going into next year which will largely offset the negative impact of weaker economic growth.