Michael Moynihan
Question:380 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the criteria used in determining the term "dead weight" in the town renewal scheme, 2000. [23020/00]
Written Answers. - Urban Renewal Schemes.
The term "dead weight", that is, development likely to proceed without the benefit of tax incentives, was identified in the Irish context in the KPMG-led study of urban renewal schemes published in 1996. The application of tax incentives to selected development represents income foregone to the Exchequer and, therefore, should only be used in circumstances where the use is justified in terms of greatest need and has the potential to assist in overcoming identifiable barriers to development. The guidelines covering urban and town renewal schemes adopted since the study have specified that, in the preparation of integrated area plans and town renewal plans and the subsequent selection of sites within the plans, care must be taken to avoid selection of sites which could constitute dead weight.
The primary criterion used to assess whether dead weight may be relevant in regard to a specific proposal is whether the incentive is required to overcome identifiable, substantive barriers to development. In the preparation of the town renewal plans by county councils and the assessment of these by the expert panel, the application of the term "dead weight" would have been considered in those situations where there was no identifiable barrier to development and where the location and character of a site suggested that development was feasible without the aid of incentives.