Department of Finance

Access to the following records held by the Department of Finance, which pertain to the economic and fiscal consequences of sustained non-European migration to Ireland. This request is submitted in the public interest, pursuant to the State’s constitutional obligations to prioritise the well-being of Irish citizens, and in response to the Department’s statutory responsibility to safeguard fiscal sustainability and public resource integrity. 1. Economic and Fiscal Modelling – Non-European Migration Please provide all records, from 1 January 2015 to the date of this request, including but not limited to briefing notes, economic forecasts, fiscal modelling, cost–benefit analyses, working papers, interdepartmental correspondence, and external consultant reports which: a) Evaluate or estimate the economic cost or fiscal impact of non-European (i.e. non-EEA) migration to the State, including the effect on: • Public expenditure (welfare, housing, health, education, childcare, policing); • Direct and indirect taxation returns from non-European migrants; • Net fiscal balance over time (short-term vs. long-term); • Labour market participation, displacement, or wage effects on Irish workers; • The sustainability of the Irish social contract. b) Identify any negative or adverse economic outcomes arising from non-European migration, including budgetary pressure, service saturation, or dependency costs; c) Consider whether high rates of inward non-European migration are compatible with Ireland’s long-term fiscal capacity, public service funding model, or demographic stability. 2. Comparison with Dutch and Danish Economic Migration Studies Please provide any records that reference, assess, or respond to the following: a) "The Borderless Welfare State" (2021), by van de Beek et al., Amsterdam School of Economics (Dutch Ministry–aligned report); b) "The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in Denmark" (2018), and c) "Immigration and Public Finances in Denmark" (2021 update), published by the Danish Ministry of Finance. This includes: a) Any internal documents evaluating whether the Department of Finance should replicate these models in Ireland; b) Any minutes, briefing notes, or correspondence that raise concern about the absence of equivalent studies in Ireland; c) Any correspondence with the European Commission, OECD, ESRI, or other entities in which the methodologies or findings of these studies are referenced or discussed. 3. Strategic Policy Briefs and Ministerial Submissions Please provide all Departmental records from 2015 onward that: a) Advise the Minister for Finance, Secretary General, or other senior officials on the fiscal, budgetary, or macroeconomic impact of non-European migration; b) Discuss the risk of social cohesion erosion, wage depression, service pressure, or increased dependency ratios linked to high-volume non-European inward migration; c) Consider whether Ireland’s existing migration and welfare policy settings risk creating perverse incentives, fiscal exposure, or intergenerational transfer burdens d) Provide any ministerial submissions or policy briefs concluding that non-EEA migration imposes net fiscal costs, including warnings about long-term risks. 4. Notes and Legal Position a) I do not seek personal information, and I request that all records be provided in electronic format. b) This request is made in the public interest to examine whether the Department of Finance is fulfilling its statutory and constitutional obligations to conduct transparent, evidence-based fiscal planning. c) In accordance with Section 27(5)(b) of the Act, I request that no fee be applied, as the release of these records is clearly in the public interest and is not being sought for personal, commercial, or frivolous reasons. d) I do not consent to any narrowing or refinement of this request under Section 15(1)(c). If refusal is considered, I expect a full schedule of the records considered, including the specific exemption(s) relied upon, justification for any redaction or withholding, and whether any portion of the records could be released in redacted or anonymised form.