Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004
491 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will change the designated buildings under the town renewal scheme 2000 for the village of Croom, County Limerick (details supplied). [5040/04]
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The designation of sites under the town renewal scheme was decided in the context of town renewal plans prepared by the relevant local authority in accordance with the Town Renewal Act 2000 and the scheme guidelines issued by my Department. An independent expert advisory panel assessed each plan and made recommendations to the Minister in this regard. These recommendations were accepted in full and that is the basis on which the scheme is now being implemented.
492 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend the area designated for tax purposes for the scheme known as the over the shop scheme at Roches Street, Limerick, to include those premises on Roches Street which have been omitted, in particular, business premises contiguous to designated premises to the limit of a suitable natural boundary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5048/04]
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The living over the shop scheme, LOTS, was introduced in the five city council areas on 6 April 2001 to tackle the problem of vacant upper storey space in targeted streets in the five cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. It was a matter for the relevant local authority to prepare and submit proposals recommending suitable streets, or parts of streets, for designation having regard to the scheme criteria. An independent expert advisory panel assessed the proposals and made recommendations to the Minister in this regard. These recommendations were accepted in full and that is the basis on which the scheme is now being implemented and I have no proposals to extend the LOTS designated area.
