Budget targets on track as €10.8bn taxes paid so far this year

Strong tax returns point to the Government meeting its budget targets this year despite pressures from welfare and health costs.

Figures for the end of April show a better than expected intake in income tax, VAT as well as corporation tax. But the budget deficit still stood at over €7bn at the end of month.

Overall, tax revenues for the first four months this year amounted to €10.8bn, an increase of just under €1.2bn (12.4%) on last year. The Government had forecast an income of €10.43bn for the period.