There is bad news this evening for the Finance Minister on the eve of the budget as tax revenues have fallen behind target.
Exchequer figures just published this evening show 3 of the 4 big taxes have performed worse that the Department of Finance had hoped for.
Spending pressures also remain though the over-spend in the Department of Health has been pulled back to €366 million.
Last Friday when the figures were totted up Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin had taken in €33.8 billion in taxes.
Now that was almost €2 billion more than on the same day last year but it is €171 million less than the coalition had budgeted for.
Main taxes see decline
Income tax performed exceptionally badly with the November returns alone which includes the all-important 'self employed' was €300 million short.
Corporation tax and excise duties are also less than the coalition hoped for.
However VAT has performed well delivering €180 million more than hoped for this year.
Spending is still almost €700 million more than budgeted for with most of it in the Department of Social Protection.
But there has been some improvement in the overspend in Health.
