Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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241. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the operation of the key employee engagement programme; the number of SMEs that have received assistance under the programme by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14160/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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S128F of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP) which came into effect on 1 January 2018. The aim of the incentive is to support SMEs in Ireland in competing with larger enterprises to recruit and retain key employees, by way of a targeted share option programme.

Revenue advise me that details of the numbers availing of this programme and the number of share options issued will only be available once the relevant employer tax returns for 2018 have been received and processed. The first KEEP returns are not due until 31 March 2019.