Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Executive Share Options.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

108 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies which have executive share options; the number of executives benefiting under these tax breaks; the total cost to the Exchequer of executive share options each year from 1990 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15848/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics are not available which would enable the precise information requested by the Deputy to be provided.

Tax relief for approved share option schemes, which was available under certain conditions to employees and directors, was abolished with effect from 29 January 1992. A cost to the Exchequer has arisen from options exercised after that date which were granted before the abolition of the relief. Following are the available relevant statistics:

Tax year	Estimated cost to the Exchequer
	£m
1990-91	1.7
1991-92	3.0
1992-93	3.0
1993-94	4.6
1994-95	5.9
1995-96	Not available

Between 6 April 1986 and 29 January 1992 there were some 9,000 participants in approved share option schemes but this includes repeated counts of some individuals who participated in such schemes in different years.