Exchequer 'on course' to meet 2004 targets

The Exchequer figures for the first quarter to the end of March published today by the Department of Finance show that the Government had a surplus of €272m compared to an Exchequer deficit of €205m for the same quarter last year.

The current account balance for the first quarter showed a surplus of €942m compared to a surplus of €195m for the same period last year and a budgeted surplus of €2.98bn for 2004 as a whole.