The latest numbers show tax revenues in January were down 9pc compared to the same month last year, including big falls in Vat and excise duty, while social welfare spending was 42pc higher.
January is an important month for Vat collection which is usually boosted by pre-Christmas trading, however, Vat receipts last month were down €340m from last year.
That reflects the hit to trading from the successive lockdowns in November and late December, and suggests CSO retail sales data that showed a rise in December spending has not translated into the tax take.
The Exchequer figures record a total €520m drop in cash terms of tax collected versus the same month last year.