Richard Bruton
Ceist:196 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the over-estimate in 2002 of the EU contributions; and if he expects that a similar saving will apply in 2003. [21272/02]
Vol. 557 No. 1
196 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the over-estimate in 2002 of the EU contributions; and if he expects that a similar saving will apply in 2003. [21272/02]
The original estimate for Ireland's EU budget contribution in 2002 was based on the 2002 EU budget as adopted towards the end of last year. Since then, two supplementary amending budgets adopted in the EU in 2002 have made substantial downwards revisions in the contributions expected of member states in 2002. These reductions in member state contributions were possible because of the carryover into the 2002 EU budget of an outturn surplus of €15 billion from the 2001 EU budget. This surplus from the 2001 EU budget represents savings in the agricultural sector, fines paid in competition cases and the under-utilisation of allocations for the Structural Funds. The 2002 saving to Ireland arising from the supplementary amending budgets is some €281million.