Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 6

Written Answers. - Border Region Development.

Brendan Smith

Question:

58 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has to introduce specific tax incentives for the Border region to attract much needed investment in the industrial infrastructure of the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7832/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

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 thirty five towns and cities around the country. Designation for urban renewals purposes is a matter for the Minister for the Environment in the first instance. Deputy McManus, Minister of State with responsibility for housing and urban renewal recently announced that the 31 July 1997 deadline for the current urban renewal scheme is to be extended by 1 year to 31 July 1998.

With regard to the future of the urban renewal scheme, Deputy McManus appointed a consultancy team to assess the experience gained over the past ten years. The brief of the consultants was to look at the impact of the scheme in fiscal, social and architectural and urban design terms. The report was published by Deputy McManus on 5 December 1996. She 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, which takes place on 25 March 1997 in Dublin Castle, for all the interested parties. Both the study and the outcome of the consultative process will be key factors in the determination of future policy on which Deputy McManus expects to put a submission to Government in the first half of 1997.