Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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333. To ask the Minister for Finance if he plans to extend the life of the Key Employment Engagement Programme which is scheduled to finish in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51925/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Key Employee Engagement Programme, or KEEP, is a is a tax efficient share option scheme and is designed to facilitate the use of share-based remuneration by unquoted SME companies to attract and retain key employees.

Under KEEP, employees are given an option to acquire shares at a future date, at a fixed price. Employees who exercise KEEP options are exempt from a liability to IT, USC and PRSI on any gain arising. CGT is due on any gains arising from the subsequent disposal of shares acquired.

As with other share-based remuneration schemes, shares awarded through KEEP are exempt from employer PRSI.

KEEP is currently scheduled to expire on 31 December 2025.

The Deputy should note, that as KEEP is a notified State Aid, any amendment or extension to KEEP requires European Commission approval.

Finally, and as the Deputy will appreciate, it is a longstanding practice that the Minister for Finance does not comment, in advance of the Budget, on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.