The extent of the funds available to the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, for dispersal in Wednesday's Budget was underscored last night by figures showing the latest surplus of Exchequer income over spending at more that £6 billion (€7.6 billion).

Exchequer returns to the end of November record a surplus of £6.4 billion compared to £1.9 billion at the same time last year. Overall tax revenue continues to soar and is more than £2 billion ahead of the 1998 figure.