Vol. 529 No. 1
460 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Finance if any provisions in the taxation code allow universities to benefit from tax relief when providing on-campus crèche facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30570/00]
There are no specific measures designed to incentivise third level institutions to provide on-campus crèche facilities. However, I would remind the Deputy that in my 1999 budget I introduced capital allowances for expenditure on the construction, refurbishment or extension of child care premises that meet the required standards as set out in the Childcare Act, 1991. Thereafter, in the 2000 budget I provided for 100% accelerated capital allowances for expenditure incurred from 1 December 1999. This accelerated allowance is available to both owners of the child care facilities and also to investors who wish to invest by way of leasing arrangements. Where the qualifying expenditure is incurred by an individual investor, or group of such investors, subject to certain conditions, and the premises is leased to the operator of the childcare facility, any excess of capital allowances can be off set against the investor's other income subject to an annual £25,000 limit. No such limit applies in the case of expenditure incurred by owner operators or corporate investors. This tax relief measure applies to all crèches in the State regardless of where they are located.
