Corporate tax comes in 11% over target putting pressure on Donohoe to increase spending

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe has seen corporate taxes for the first nine months of the year come in 11% ahead of target, giving rise to speculation that his budget-day spending package will exceed the €2.8bn he has already committed to.

While Mr Donohoe is planning the budget on the basis of a no-deal Brexit, the Government has raised its 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for this year to 5.5% from 3.9%, after growth for the first half exceeded expectations.