Ned O'Keeffe
Question:51 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the number of sustainable jobs that have been created in each year since the BES was introduced; and the cost of each job as a result of BES relief. [3255/95]
Written Answers. - Creation of Jobs.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that reliable statistics relating to the number of jobs created by the business expansion scheme are not available to enable the information requested by the Deputy to be provided.In late 1990, a general review of the scheme was conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of the Marine, the Department of Tourism and Transport and the Department of Industry and Commerce. The review identified growth of approximately, 4,240 jobs in 347 companies which has received almost £95 million investment under the scheme at a cost of some £49 million to the Exchequer.
Since 1992 the Revenue Commissioners have been collecting figures with a view to assessing the growth in employment in firms assisted by the BES. While the figures available so far do not, in themselves, provide reliable indicators of the total number of jobs saved or created solely because of the BES, they will provide a basis for the more detailed review of the economic efficiency of the BES, promised in the programme for A Government of Renewal.