Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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26. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated likely higher contributions to the EU in view of the forecast increase in GNP over the next ten years; if he has studied the impact of our increased financial contribution to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50716/17]

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.

My Department currently forecasts that Ireland's contribution to the EU budget will be €2,020 million in 2017, €2,650 million in 2018, €2,675 million in 2019 and €2,750 million in 2020. It is worth noting that these forecasts are contingent on a number of variables,  including the size of the overall EU budget for the year and other EU budget operational developments which will only emerge as the year progresses. As a result all forecasts will be monitored and updated on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available. These updates also allow for updated GNI forecasts as they become available.

The Commission is due to present a proposal on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (post 2020) by mid-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.