The books at the Department of Finance are in good shape.
The latest Exchequer figures show the government took in more tax than it expected to last month.
It's also spending less.
The Exchequer returns to the end of October show tax revenues 37 million euro ahead of target and 888 million better than the same ten months in 2012.
Expenditure's also under control with Departments having spent more than 800 million less that had been expected.
Figures published this evening show the State took in 110 million euro more than expected on excise duties last month.
It's thought that people stocked up on alcohol and cigarettes as they anticipated an increase in the price of both in the Budget.
Overall the figures show that tax income for the first ten months of the year is in line with expectations, while state spending is 2.3 per cent lower than forecast.
