136 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the benefits to the economy of the business expansion scheme and the cost to the Exchequer annually since its inception. [37930/10]

The Business Expansion Scheme was introduced in 1984, to incentivise private investment in long-term equity capital in companies.

The scheme assists in the creation and retention of jobs in certain small and medium-sized companies located in Ireland, through the provision of capital investment, which companies would otherwise find difficult to raise.

The scheme was reviewed in 2006 and subsequently extended until 2013. The reasons for this extension included the clear market failure in providing equity capital for small firms in their start up and early development phases, the evidence of how vital the scheme has been in the past for such firms and continuing needs in this regard, as well as the potential return to the economy from indigenous Irish companies.

The estimated cost of the Business Expansion Scheme since it was created, for all tax years up to and including 2009, the latest year for which figures are available, is set out in the following table: