| Term | Definition |
| Estimates | The amount of money each government minister decides they need to run their department |
| Semi-state Company | Business that is owned by the Irish state e.g. An Post, RTE |
| Current expenditure for the government | Social welfare payments
Wages to public sector workers
Hospital running cost |
| Capital income for a company | Sale of old machinery, Government grant |
| Debit servicing | Amount of money allocated in the budget to paying off part of Ireland's national debt |
| Current | Day-to-day or regular income or expenditure |
| The National Budget | Document that gives a detailed breakdown of government income and expenditure for the next year |
| Surplus budget | Type of budget where planned total income is greater than planned total expenditure |
| Minister for Finance | Minister who prepares the National Budget |
| Deficit Budget | Type of budget where planned total income is less then planned total expenditure |
| Department Budget | Amount of money each department receives |
| Capital | Long-term or once-off income or expenditure |
| Income tax | A tax paid by employees on their income |
| Current income for a household | Wages, child benefit, pension |
| Compulsory tax | Tax that has to be paid |
| EU Grants | Money given to Ireland from the European Union that does not have to be payed back |
| Government borrowing requirement | Amount borrowed by the Irish government each year if government expenditure is greater than government income |
| Balanced budget | Type of budget where planned total income is equal to planned total expenditure |
| Excise duties | A tax on cigarettes, alcohol and petrol |
