John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

According to the Department of Finance, the overall amount for the scheme is €50 million.

I will address a number of small points. As part of the medium-term economic strategy in 2013, the Government carried out regular evaluations of tax expenditure. It is not the responsibility of my Department but that of the Department of Finance to evaluate reliefs on a regular basis. This is to ensure they meet the policy objectives and support job creation and innovation. The knowledge development box, KDB, legislation provided for in the Finance Act 2015 included a review clause in order that an evaluation would be conducted. The Comptroller and Auditor General will undertake a county by county assessment which will be given to the Minister's office. The Minister will assess the scheme. It will then be placed before the Dáil, through which forum it will be open to the public and every Deputy to assess and debate how the scheme has operated financially and otherwise county by county. That is as open as one can get. The Comptroller and Auditor General does not have to do this, but he will do so to ensure transparency.