Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
219. Deputy John Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason his Department has revised the forecasted Exchequer surplus in 2026 down to €5.1 billion from the predicted surplus of €14.6 billion in budget 2024; if his Department will provide fiscal forecasts for the Exchequer for 2027 and 2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69847/25]
View answerFrom the figures the Deputy has quoted, I will assume that he is referring to the General Government Balance, which is a wider measure than the Exchequer balance and incorporates the activity of all arms of Government.
At the time of Budget 2024, a General Government surplus of €14.6 billion was forecast for 2026, based on revenue of just under €141 billion and expenditure of €126.3 billion.
By the time of Budget 2026 earlier this year, the forecast for expenditure had risen to €147.3 billion, an increase of just under €21 billion. This increase in expenditure was partially offset by an upwards revision in forecast revenue to €152.4 billion, an €11.4 billion increase.
In line with Programme for Government commitments, my Department will be publishing a Medium-Term Fiscal Plan tomorrow. This will set out binding expenditure ceilings and fiscal forecasts for the period 2026-2030.
