Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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491. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated net contribution that will be made by Ireland under the MFF agreed by the EU for 2021-27; the way this compares to the estimated net contribution of the EEA countries of Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein and with the non-EEA country Switzerland that have access to the customs union and the Single Market for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18867/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s contributions to the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) are expected to rise over the coming period, from approximately €3.25 billion in 2021, to approximately €3.95 billion in 2027, an average of €3.6 billion per annum.

Data on Ireland’s EU Budget receipts are published annually, for the previous year, in my Department’s Budgetary Statistics each autumn – i.e. 2020 receipt data will be published in autumn 2021. Therefore, it is not yet possible to confirm Ireland’s net contribution to the 2021-2027 MFF. However, my Department estimates that our receipts from the 2021-2027 MFF will be in the region of approximately €2 billion each year.

Looking at EU Budget contributions in net terms fails to capture the wider benefits to Ireland of our membership of the European Union. The European Commission has previously estimated the benefits to Ireland of the Single Market at over €30 billion and close to 10% of GNI.

In relation to the estimated contribution of the EEA countries of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein and of Switzerland over the coming period 7-year, that information is not yet available as discussions with the EEA and with Switzerland are on-going.