The latest Exchequer figures from the Department of Finance show a deficit of €22.2bn for the ten months to the end of October, up from €14.4bn for the same period last year.
The Department of Finance has said the increase is mainly due to the payment of Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes and the recapitalisation of the banks in July.
Today's figures show that total tax revenues are €184m (0.7%) below target at €26.67bn.
Income tax is €125m (1.2%) below target at €10.5bn, which the department described as ''a good performance''.
Excise duties, the third biggest source of tax revenue, are 0.5% or €17m ahead of targets at €3.732bn.
But VAT receipts are now showing a shortfall of €383m (4.5%) at €8.196bn due to weak domestic demand. October is the fifth month in a row where VAT has come in below expectations.
