Exchequer figures set to reveal surplus of €500m for 2004
Exchequer figures due to be published today are reportedly set to reveal a surplus of €500m for 2004.
Reports this morning said this figure was smaller than some forecasters had been predicting at the start of last month.
At that stage, the Exchequer was being buoyed by a huge boost in tax revenues and below-target spending, resulting in a surplus of €1.9bn for the first 11 months of the year.
However, this has since declined due to a traditional upsurge in government spending towards the end of the year, particularly in transport, education, environment and health.
