Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can throw some light on the Deputy's questions about jobs. Meaningful data in relation to the number of jobs supported should become available in 2016. Under the terms of the scheme, relief in respect of 30% of the amount invested in a qualifying company is granted to the investor in the year of investment. The balance is only due where it has been proven that employment levels have increased at the company at the end of the holding period for shares, or where evidence is provided that the company used the capital raised for expenditure on research and development. As the EII was only introduced late in 2011, there are only a small number of claims for the balance of the relief for investments made in 2012, which are now falling due. It will only be possible at the end of 2016 to examine employment figures in relation to the first full year of investment, which was 2013.