Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 4

Written Answers. - Urban Renewal Schemes.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

99 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the location of the most recent urban renewal scheme; the changes from previous schemes; the areas covered by the scheme; and the way in which a person can avail of the benefits of the urban renewal scheme. [18289/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

I assume the Deputy is referring to the new living over the shop scheme, which applies an integrated tax incentive package to tackle the problem of vacant upper storey space over commercial premises in the five major cities.

The new scheme aims to build on progress achieved under a previous scheme introduced in 1994. The new scheme allowed the county boroughs greater flexibility in selecting streets through the operation of a maximum street length rather than a small number of named streets as had applied under the 1994 scheme. This facilitated the designation of a large number of streets in the various central areas of the five county boroughs.

Another change is that some limited new build is allowed whereas the earlier scheme comprised refurbishment incentives only. A customised package of tax incentives covering both residential and commercial incentives is available. While the focus of the scheme is on the refurbishment and conversion of existing buildings for residential use, the limited new build is being allowed to facilitate access, to provide essential residential facilities, to restore streetscapes and so on.

Commercial incentives are also allowed but expenditure on this cannot exceed total expenditure on the residential element. Commercial incentives are confined to retail only, excluding financial services and mail order businesses. There are no incentives for office or industrial development.

The five county borough corporations were asked last September to submit to my Department by 15 December 2000, proposals for the selection of streets in line with criteria drawn up by my Department. The proposals submitted by the corporations were then assessed by an independent expert advisory panel, which made recommendations on the streets to be designated. In the region of 13,000 metres of street were subsequently designated for tax incentives under the scheme, which runs from 6 April 2001 to 31 December 2004.

Details of the streets designated are available from relevant local authorities. Property owners-developers, etc. who own premises on the streets designated should contact the local authority in relation to their proposals; certification guidelines for the scheme are currently being prepared by my Department and will issue shortly.