Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be happy to look at it in the Tax Strategy Group process. The draw-down of the research and development credit for small and medium enterprises for 2019 stood at €801 million. I know that does not give a break down into microcompanies and the smallest companies that are starting up. From the figures that I have here, it looks as if the research and development credit continues to be heavily used by companies that are not the big companies that tend to be associated with this. We will look at this as part of the Tax Strategy Group process.

On the Deputy's point about adopting the research and development regime for smaller companies, my view is that it would end up creating something so complex that, when I am here for next year's Finance Bill, the Deputy would be asking me why no or very few companies are accessing it. I do not think it is worth being in that position. We will instead try to skin the cat differently with the changes that we have made in the EIIS and the changes that we are making by launching a new innovation fund of approximately €90 million, which I believe will yield a different way to support innovation and microcompanies.