Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Finance the EU budgetary contribution expected from the State for 2018 and 2019; the modelling that has been carried out to determine the State's estimated contribution post Brexit; the quantum this might be in the potential different scenarios for 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44567/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in Budget 2018, my Department currently forecasts that Ireland's contribution to the EU budget will be €2,650 million in 2018, €2,675 million in 2019 and €2,750 million in 2020. It is worth noting that this forecast is contingent on a number of variables, including the size of the overall EU budget for any individual year and other operational developments which will only emerge as the year progresses. As such, these estimates are monitored and updated on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.

In relation to Brexit, as the Deputy will be aware, negotiations are currently on-going. Therefore, as he can appreciate, it would not be advisable for me to discuss those negotiations in detail at this point. Ireland wants a financial settlement reached in a fair and transparent manner on the basis of an agreed, objective methodology, that enables a positive future relationship between the EU and the UK and which reflects the UK's legal and budgetary commitments under the Multiannual Financial Framework.

My Department has undertaken some modelling work to estimate the potential impact of Brexit on our EU budget contributions. This analysis will be developed as the negotiations progress and when the Commission publishes its proposal on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (post 2020), currently expected to be released in May 2018.

While my Department currently forecasts Ireland's contributions to the EU budget for 2021 to be €2,775 million, this figure is used primarily for illustrative purposes. It should also be noted that the 2021 forecast falls outside the current Multiannual Financial Framework and as such, should be treated with caution. Contribution estimates will be updated on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.