H1 tax take 1% ahead of target

The tax take for the first half of the year is 1% ahead of target at just under €17.6bn, according to latest Exchequer figures.

The Exchequer figures to the end of June show tax returns 3.4% or almost €600m greater than the same period in 2012.

The deficit for the first six months of the year stands at €6.6bn, down from a forecast of €10.6bn on Budget day.

Assistant General Secretary at the Department of Finance Derek Moran meanwhile said €126m in Property Tax has been collected.