Main points of revenue flows

The Exchequer surplus of revenue over spending was £1

The Exchequer surplus of revenue over spending was £1.344 billion and the Government is expecting a full-year surplus of £800 million.

Taxes in the first nine months amounted to £11.852 billion, 12.5 per cent ahead of the same period last year, or 13.6 per cent when adjusted for the fact that motor vehicle duties have gone to the local authorities this year and are not included in the central Exchequer figures. All tax headings are rising strongly.

Non-tax revenue - much of it money from the EU - was £266 million.

Current supply services - day to day spending - was £7.794 billion, an increase of 6.8 per cent on the same period last year. Pressures on spending on pay, agriculture and justice are being mainly offset by social welfare savings due to the falling live register.

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Central Fund services - mainly the servicing of the national debt - fell 6.7 per cent from the same period last year, mainly due to special payments last year to the An Post and Telecom pension funds and the Small Savings Reserve Fund.