John Ellis
Question:76 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Finance if he will give a special tax designation to the Shannon/Erne catchment in the 1997 budget; and if he will make a statement on the proposals, if any, he has for the area. [24024/96]
Written Answers. - Tax Designation for Shannon-Erne Catchment.
Designation of towns and areas for tax incentives normally comes under the urban renewal scheme. The present urban renewal scheme was introduced on 1 August, 1994 for a three year period and it applies to 35 towns and cities around the country. Designation for urban renewal purposes is a matter for the Minister for the Environment in the first instance. As part of the review of the urban renewal scheme the Minister of State, Deputy McManus, appointed a consultancy team to assess the experience gained over the last ten years. The brief of the consultants was to look at the impact of the scheme in fiscal, social and architectural-urban design terms.
The report was published by the Minister of State, Deputy McManus on 5 December 1996. The Minister of State said that the publication of the study marks the beginning of a period of consultation in relation to future policy in which she invited all those interested in urban renewal to participate. This consultation process will be concluded with a conference for all the interested parties early next year. Both the study and the outcome of the consultative process will be key factors in the determination of future policy on which the Minister of State expects to put a submission to Government in the late spring next year. It would be inappropriate, in the interim, to consider what new areas, if any, might be suitable for designation as part of any future scheme.