Ireland receives €979m from the EU

IRELAND received €979 million net from the EU last year, far in excess per head of population than many less wealthy member states.

However, the overall trend for receipts is down, as the country no longer qualifies for cohesion funds designed to raise the incomes of less prosperous regions of the union.

The Irish proved to be the best spenders again in 2006 having used over 90% of its allocation and was held out as an example to the new member states that failed to spend more than two thirds of their funds.