Vol. 475 No. 4
254 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will consider the introduction of a moratorium on rates payments on buildings for new start-up industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4854/97]
Under section 5 of the Industrial Development Act, 1986, local authorities in the areas designated under the Act may grant a two-thirds remission of rates for ten years on industrial premises. Such rates remission is an additional incentive which may be offered to industry in such areas.
Under the urban renewal scheme, rates remission is available on a sliding scale over ten years for enterprise establishing in new or refurbished buildings in specified areas. The scheme is administered by the Minister for the Environment.
These two approaches allow rates remission to be used in a targeted way to achieve regional and urban renewal objectives by encouraging industrial development and employment creation.
