Government take in more tax than ever before in 2016

The tax take for 2016 was the highest ever - with the State taking more tax than during the peak of the boom.

The state gathered nearly € 48 billion in tax last year, according to the latest Exchequer Returns - higher than the previous peak of 2007. The State ran a deficit of just over € 1 billion euro - but the Department of Finance says it's € 800 million better than last year's figure.