Figures from the Department of Finance show that the gap between Government spending and tax revenue last year was just under €18.75 billion, broadly in line with the target set in the December 2009 Budget.
Total tax receipts of €31.75 billion were around €700m ahead of Government targets set early last year, helped by a strong corporation tax take.
Read more details of the tax figures here
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the figures showed that the public finances had stabilised, and welcomed the fact that three of the big four tax categories came in ahead of target.
The exception was income tax, which was just over €250m behind expectations at €11.3 billion. Corporation tax was 24% better than projected at €3.9 billion, while excise duties were 3.6% better at €4.7 billion. VAT was only marginally better than expected at just over €10 billion.
Compared with 2009, however, income tax was 4.7% lower, VAT 5.3% down and excise 0.5% lower, though corporation tax was 0.6% ahead of the 2009 figure. The total tax take was 3.9%, or almost €1.3 billion, below the 2009 level.
Total spending of €46.4 billion was broadly on target, and was 1.5% lower than in 2009. This was mainly due to a 14% drop in capital spending, as day-to-day spending was marginally higher.
Interest payments on our debt last year were just over €4 billion, up from €2.55 billion in 2009.
