Vol. 486 No. 1
505 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will include the northern half of County Meath in the tax incentive scheme for individuals who invest in quality hotel accommodation in the north and north west of the country in view of the close proximity of most of north Meath to the Border. [1531/98]
While I can appreciate the points made by the Deputy, the purpose of the scheme is to give an incentive to individuals to invest in quality hotel accommodation in the seven named counties which are less prosperous than other areas of the State. I regret, therefore, that it is not proposed to extend the scheme to County Meath.
I should point out that the budget ring-fenced the capital allowances on hotels, which an individual passive investor may claim, to rental income. The new scheme for investment in quality hotel accommodation in seven counties in the north and north west of the country operates by not applying this general restriction to such hotels in the seven counties, apart from hotels in the designated seaside resorts in those counties. The budget did restrict the allowances available to individuals directly involved in the running of hotels or to companies, and such allowances are available in these circumstances on a general basis throughout the State.
