Ned O'Keeffe
Question:139 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if areas (details supplied) in County Cork have been zoned for urban renewal; and if they will qualify for tax exemption under this scheme. [9923/03]
Written Answers - Urban Renewal Schemes.
The designation and selection of areas for tax relief under the 1999 urban renewal scheme is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in the first instance. I have been informed by that Minister that Mallow was designated for tax incentives under the 1999 urban renewal scheme. Designations under the scheme were based on integrated area plans (IAPs) submitted by local authorities and were in line with recommendations made by the independent expert advisory panel on urban renewal, which was established to assess all of the plans submitted. Under the Urban Renewal Act 1998, it was a matter for the relevant local authority to recommend sub-areas for designation within the area covered by the integrated area plan. Specific tax incentives were not sought by Cork County Council in respect of either of the two areas in question when the integrated area plan was originally submitted to the panel. The expert panel was confined to examining those proposals put forward by the council. Proposals which were not received at the time cannot now be considered. The recommendations made by the expert panel were accepted in full and that is the basis on which designation is now being implemented.