Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
860. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total estimated corporate tax take and the percentage that will be 'saved not spent' that is, used to pay down debt or transferred to a sovereign wealth or investment future fund in 2024, 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1831/26]
View answerAll Exchequer revenue is paid into the Central Fund, and is not hypothecated: as such it is not possible to directly link any particular tax head to a particular form of expenditure in the manner suggested by the Deputy.
However, the two long-term savings funds - the Future Ireland Fund (FIF) and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) - were created in response to the exceptional increase in corporation tax receipts over the last ten years, to enable Government to set aside ‘windfall’ tax receipts to prepare for future challenges.
Over the last two years, over €8 billion has been transferred from the Exchequer to the FIF and €2 billion has been transferred to the ICNF. This was in addition to the c. €6 billion that was invested into the Funds arising from the dissolution of the National Reserve Fund in 2024.
This year, a further €6½ billion will be transferred into the two funds. This means that we are, in effect, investing around one-fifth of corporation tax receipts each year into the FIF and ICNF. We are also continuing to run budgetary surpluses. In 2025, my Department estimates that a General Government surplus in the region of €12.4 billion was recorded, while for 2026 a General Government surplus of €5.1 billion was projected at Budget time.
The key metrics – corporation tax receipts (excluding the once-off revenues arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling of 2024), the General Government surplus and the transfers from the Exchequer to the two Funds – are set out below for the Deputy’s convenience.
|
- |
2024 (€ billions) |
2025 (€ billions) |
2026 (€ billions) |
|
Corporation Tax |
28.1 |
32.9 |
34.0 |
|
General Government Balance |
23.4^ |
12.4^^ |
5.1 |
|
Exchequer transfers to Funds |
4.1 |
6.1 |
6.5 |
^ Includes the once-off receipts from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling of 2024.
^^ Department of Finance estimate.
