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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 3

Written Answers. - Urban Renewal Scheme.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

133 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Finance if he has forwarded details of the urban renewal scheme in line with the request made to the Government by the European Commission in January 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13574/99]

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the new urban renewal scheme legislated for in the Finance Act, 1988. My Department formally notified the EU Commission of the business elements of the scheme on 17 September 1998 after having already discussed it with the EU Commission on a number of occasions earlier in the year. The Commission responded on 17 November 1998 with a request for a substantial amount of additional information. The matter was discussed with the EU Commission at a meeting in mid-February and a detailed reply was sent to the commission in early March. The commission wrote again on 24 March 1999 with a further request for additional information and a reply was sent to this letter on 24 May 1999. The discussions with the EU Commission have been quite protracted and are affected by the delay in obtaining EU approval for the new regional State aids map for various Irish regions, including the new regional aid intensity ceilings. It appears that it will take some more months before the business tax incentives elements of the scheme will be approved by the EU Commission.

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