Tom Hayes
Question:212. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of student accommodation that was built under section 50 of the Finance Act 1999. [22749/13]
View answerTuesday, 14 May 2013
Questions (212)
Written answers
Section 50 student accommodation is a section 23 type relief given in respect of the provision of certain third level student accommodation. The scheme was introduced on 1 April 1999 and extended a number of times before finally coming to an end on 31 July 2008.
The details of accommodation addresses is not captured as a normal part of individual tax returns, with the result that a list of accommodation, as requested by the Deputy, is not available.
The legislation requires that each project is subject to certification by the relevant third level college in accordance with guidelines drawn up by the Minister for Education and Skills in consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and with the consent of the Minister for Finance. The guidelines covered key elements of the scheme. These included the institutions that qualified, conditions relating to the standards and location of accommodation and the categories of students whose accommodation was covered.
In addition, the scheme also requires the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to issue either a Certificate of Reasonable Cost or a Certificate of Compliance in respect of every project undertaken. In section 9 of the Indecon Review of Property-Based Tax Incentive Schemes (published by the Department of Finance in February 2006), there is a reference to certificates having been issued in respect of 4,718 units, and included are the counties in which the units were located. This covers units constructed between 1 April 1999 and 18 February 2005.