evidence: In 2015 the UK's gross contribution to the EU was £12.9bn. There is not a specific regional breakdown detailing where this money comes from, but as it represents close to 3% of Britain's total population it is estimated (by some) that NI sent £374m to Brussels. [...] This swung from Leave Voters saying EU membership cost the region £67m - to a BBC fact check finding that the North's contribution had been overstated, and that it actually gains £58m a year through membership. [...] The Nevin Institute's figures forecast that the best case scenario would be a 'soft break' with the EU - "Depending on exactly how Northern Ireland’s contribution is calculated it would fair to suggest that the best Northern Ireland could hope for would be to break even in the event of a Brexit," it concludes.