Exchequer back in black with €843m

THE Government was given a pre-Budget boost last night with the public coffers swinging back into the black to the tune of almost €843 million.

Exchequer returns for November, published last night by the Department of Finance, show that the public coffers moved into surplus last month compared to a €2.1 billion deficit at the end of October.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy was also rewarded with a near 10% jump in tax revenues compared to a forecasted 8% rise on Budget day last year.