Revenue take sees rise of 7% on 2010

The Revenue Commissioners have reported a total tax and duty take of €34.2bn for 2011.

Although receipts were still €831m below budget targets, the total was up by over 7% on 2010 figures and bucked a trend of three successive years of falling returns to the exchequer.

Furthermore, the level of outstanding tax debt stabilised last year — falling from €2.08bn to €1.99bn — and is beginning to decrease, with Revenue saying it intends to improve the debt position further this year.