Budget prospects - Poor must be given bigger slice of cake

LESS than a week in office, Finance Minister Brian Cowen has the luxury of knowing the Exchequer coffers are in a remarkably healthy state, putting him in a strong position to ease the burden on taxpayers when he introduces Budget 2005 in December.

For the third time in a row the figures unveiled in yesterday’s estimates are highly positive, with income tax running 21% ahead of target and stamp duty up 25% on last year.

By last week, having budgeted for a deficit of almost €3 billion, the shortfall was down to