I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 220 to 222, inclusive, together.
EU Budget payments and public sector receipt data are published annually by the Department of Finance in the Budget Statistics bulletin. The latest edition from October 2015 contains these data up to 2014. The public sector receipt measure captures funds under 'shared management' between national and EU authorities. In addition, the EU also pays some additional receipts directly to private beneficiaries under 'centralised direct management', most notably under the EU research funding programme. Under this wider measure, Ireland became a net contributor to the EU budget in 2014, the first time since accession in 1973. These data are contained in the table below. Final receipts figures for 2015 will not available until Quarter 3 2016.
Separately, member states contributions to the EU Budget are based upon a complex formula which includes Traditional Own Resources (customs duties), a VAT-based payment and a residual balancing component paid in accordance with each Member State's (MS) share of EU Gross National Income (GNI). Ireland's projected contribution estimates for 2015 and 2016 are also set out in the tables below. However, it should be noted these estimates will be subject to change arising from expected EU legislative and expenditure developments including agreement of the 2016 EU budget, and a draft amending budget for 2015. These will have a knock-on impact on EU budget contributions.
Whilst Ireland's specific earmarked allocations from areas including CAP, cohesion and fisheries under the 2014 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework remain unchanged, the emergence of a number of economic and budgetary developments mean that over the 2014-2020 period, it is expected we will be an overall net contributor to the EU Budget, mainly as a consequence of our stronger-than-expected economic performance relative to the rest of Europe.
Year
|
EU Budget Payment
|
Public Sector Receipts
|
Direct Management^
|
Total Receipts*
|
-
|
€m
|
€m
|
€m
|
€m
|
2011
|
1,350
|
1,950
|
80
|
2,030
|
2012
|
1,393
|
1,838
|
109
|
1,947
|
2013
|
1,726
|
1,673
|
113
|
1,786
|
2014
|
1,686
|
1,426
|
84
|
1,509
|
2015 (e)
|
1,940
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
2016 (e)
|
1,975
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(e) Estimate
^ Research receipt data is as published by the EU Commission.
* Rounding may affect totals.
Sources: Department of Finance, Paying Authorities & EU Commission