Extra €1bn in Exchequer surplus

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy's successor will have an extra €1 billion to spend when he frames his first budget in the first week of December.

Yesterday's publication of the Exchequer Returns for the year to July show an Exchequer surplus of €255 million was recorded in the first seven months of the year, according to the figures from the Department of Finance.

This compares to an Exchequer Deficit of €241m the same time last year.