Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance his forecast for net migration patterns here for 2010 and 2011; the way he expects these patterns to impact on tax revenues, welfare payments, demand for and cost of public service provision; the overall Exchequer position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34045/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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At Budget time last year, my Department assumed net outward migration of 45,000 this year and net outward migration of 10-15,000 next year.

Clearly this will have an impact on the public finances, with both the revenue and expenditure sides of the Government's balance sheet being affected. All these impacts have been factored into fiscal projections.

Recently released figures from the CSO show that net outward migration in the year to April 2010 was minus 34,500. Additionally, it should be noted that the natural increase in the population is at its highest rate since at least 1987, which is an encouraging pointer to the overall sustainability of the Irish economy over the longer term.

My Department will provide revised macro-economic forecasts in the Pre-Budget Outlook in October.