Rory O'Hanlon
Question:66 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide tax breaks for development and refurbishment of a town (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [10332/97]
Written Answers. - Tax Incentives.
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. 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 one year to 31 July 1998.
The Minister of State appointed a consultancy team to assess the experience gained over the last ten years of urban renewal schemes. 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 on 5 December 1996. She said that the publication of the study marked 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 culminated with a conference for all the interested parties last month. 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 first half of 1997.