Income tax continues to bolster the public finances, with income tax receipts amounting to €21.9 billion, up by €1.5 billion (7.5%). The Exchequer results, published today, show VAT receipts of €16.3 billion were up by €1.4 billion (9.7%). The golden goose that is Ireland’s corporation tax receipts continue to give, with €15 billion recorded, 4.7% higher on last year. He said the income tax, VAT and corporation tax figures gives Ireland a “certain degree of resilience, notwithstanding the very uncertain world out there that we are living in”. He said the government plans to reduce the burden of income tax, and look at the cost of childcare and the cost of disability.