The coalition's been given a massive pre-budget boost with tax revenues running nearly a billion euro more than expected.
Latest exchequer returns are another signal that Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin will be able to ease up on the austerity on October 14th.
But in a statement this evening the Finance Minister says he'll get the deficit below the 3% target next year, meaning he's going to impose a slightly harsher budget than necessary.
