Tax-take boosts State coffers

AN Exchequer deficit of about €200 million is expected when the Department of Finance publishes its year-end tax figures today.

The amount is expected to be €2.6 billion lower than expected by the department and former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy a year ago.

But the Government borrowed less as tax revenues have soared. The State coffers have also been boosted by the €700m netted by the Revenue Commissioners from its investigations into bogus offshore accounts and other hot-money activities.