Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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126. To ask the Minister for Finance the basis on which the Irish contribution to the EU budget is determined each year; and the specific figures used to determine the actual or projected contributions in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. [43460/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Member State 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 share of EU Gross National Income (GNI).

Given both high levels of economic growth in Ireland in recent years, when compared with that of other Member States, our overall share of contributions to the EU budget has grown significantly and Ireland became a net contributor to the EU budget for the first time in 2014. We forecast this trend to continue in the coming years.

Ireland's contribution to the EU budget in 2016 was c. €2,022 million. Our current forecast for Ireland's contribution to the EU budget for 2017 is €2,300 million and €2,650 million in 2018. However, both of these figures are subject to further revision with the release of new projections from the Commission over the coming period.