Under the new urban renewal scheme, which is due to come into operation on 1 August 1998, integrated area plans for Kilmallock, New-castle West and Rathkeale were submitted by Limerick County Council on 9 April 1998.
Guidelines for the new urban renewal scheme made it clear that local authorities were expected to give priority to areas in cities and towns with strong urban characteristics and the highest concentrations of physical decay and socio-economic disadvantage in selecting areas for the preparation of integrated area plans. The extent to which the integrated area plans submitted to my Department meet the criteria for the new scheme will be assessed by a broadly based expert advisory panel which I established last year to assess all the plans submitted and make recommendations in relation to the designation of areas for tax incentives. Until such time as the plans have been examined by the expert advisory panel and considered further in the light of the panel's recommendations it will not be possible to say which towns are likely to be included in the new scheme.