Michael Ring
Question:200 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance the number of projects and applicants who took advantage of or benefited from the tax designation in Knock, County Mayo. [26128/99]
Written Answers - Tax Relief Schemes.
Michael Ring
Question:201 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance when the tax designation scheme in Knock, County Mayo, will end; and the plans, if any, he has to extend the existing scheme. [26129/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
Section 26 of the 1997 Finance brought in tax reliefs for various enterprise areas including areas
immediately adjacent to seven regional airports. The qualifying period for expenditure incurred was originally due to terminate on 30 June 2000. However, the EU Commission insisted that the qualifying period should end on 31 December 1999 in order to conform with the end of the existing regional aid schemes throughout the European Union. It would accordingly be very difficult to get formal EU Commission approval for any extension to the qualifying period. It is understood that to date one project has availed of the opportunity to locate in the enterprise area adjacent to Knock Regional Airport.