Liz McManus
Question:57 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding negotiations with the European Commission regarding rent and rate reliefs in Dublin's docklands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26890/99]
Written Answers. - EU Funding.
The EU Commission was notified in January 1998 of this matter and my Department has discussed it on several occasions since with the EU Commission. The Commission approved the capital allowances for this scheme last January and on 9 February it sent a detailed letter to the Irish authorities raising queries about the double rent and rates reliefs for this scheme. A very detailed and comprehensive reply was sent to the Commission on 8 March in response to its 9 February letter.
In accordance with EU procedures the Commission published its 9 February letter in the EU Official Journal on 10 April inviting comments on this matter from the other member states and interested parties by 10 May. A number of interested parties sent in their comments to the Commission by the required date and the Irish authorities received copies of these from the Commission. I had discussions with Commissioner Monti on 21 October 1999 in Brussels and officials from my Department had further discussions with the Commission as recently as early November. It is expected that the EU Commission will make a final decision on this matter on 22 December 1999.
This issue has been treated as a priority by my Department over the last 21 months. Every effort has been made to bring the matter to a reasonable conclusion as quickly as possible. I am not, however, in a position to give a definitive reply to the question at this point in time.