Today’s exchequer figures show the difficulties that our jobs crisis continue to pose for the public finances with income tax revenue is falling further behind target. The shortfall for income tax alone is €263m up to the end of August, 3.5% below target and 8% below this time last year.

Getting our banks back on a sound footing and getting the public finances in order are important, but getting Ireland back to work must be the number one economic and social priority.

With each extra person on the dole costing the state €20,000 in lost tax revenue and welfare payments, it’s clear that closing the public finance chasm can only happen when we get Ireland back working.

Continued weakness in the property market sees stamp duty a whopping 24% below target and nearly 70% below this point last year.

Corporation tax is the one blip in this month’s figures which came in 20% ahead of target, but it remains to be seen how this will hold up for the remainder of the year, particularly given the significant September and November Corporation Tax pay-days.