Vol. 506 No. 2
203 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Finance the criteria involved for inclusion in the rural renewal scheme for designated areas; if this scheme will be extended to include the parish of Skreen and Dromard, County Sligo, in view of the fact that prosperous towns are included while areas of obvious demographic demise are excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14986/99]
The area designated under the rural renewal scheme includes all of the counties Longford and Leitrim and parts of the neighbouring counties of Sligo, Cavan and Roscommon. It has long been recognised that the area designated has suffered long-term population decline and less than average economic growth. It is also an area that is without significant urban centres that elsewhere have acted as focuses for economic growth and inward investment. In and effort to address these problems I made provisions in the Finance Act, 1998, for the introduction of a tax incentive scheme for this area, both to encourage people to reside in the area and to promote new economic activity.
