Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a forecast for each of 2012 and 2013 of the State's contribution to the European Union budget and of receipts from the EU and to show if the State is forecast to be a net contributor or net beneficiary from the EU budget. [52453/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The level of Ireland’s contribution to the EU Budget is determined by the 7 year Multiannual Financial Framework, each individual annual EU Budget negotiation between Council and the European Parliament and our economic performance relative to other Member States.

It is currently estimated that Ireland’s contribution to the EU Budget will amount to approximately €1,400 million in 2012 and €1,450 million in 2013, although this will depend on a number of factors including actual budget implementation.

Based on current indications, Ireland expects public sector receipts from the EU budget of approximately €1,850 million in 2012 and €1,700 million in 2013. The change between 2012 and 2013 is partly due to the accounting and budgetary cycle associated with the current rural development programme, which ends in 2013.

This means that Ireland will remain a net recipient until at least the end of the current 7 year Multiannual Financial Framework 2007-2013. Since 1973 Ireland has been a net recipient from the EU Budget to the tune of over €42 billion (The EU makes some payments directly (e.g. research funding) which are not included in these figures).