Vol. 547 No. 1
791 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the success of the tax designation town renewal scheme; the analysis which has been carried out to determine the efficacy of the scheme; the level of uptake in the various towns; and the number of jobs created. [2357/02]
The town renewal scheme is monitored on an ongoing basis. Designations under the town renewal scheme were announced in July 2000. Residential incentives were commenced immediately, but the requirement to obtain European Commission approval for the commercial incentives meant that these did not commence until 6 April 2001. While the detailed information requested is not yet available in my Department, the take up of the scheme appears to have been slow in some towns. In response to this position, the Government announced in December 2001 a new initiative aimed at boosting the supply of rental residential accommodation in areas already designated under the town renewal scheme and the current urban renewal scheme.
The initiative involves the extension of section 23 type incentives with effect from 5 December 2001 to sites and sub-areas already designated for owner-occupier reliefs. This arrangement complements other measures aimed at boosting housing supply which were contained in budget 2002. These amendments represent a considerable enhancement of the town renewal scheme and will also complement local authority efforts in attracting investment for sites designated as commercial and industrial under the scheme. I am confident that, with pro-active promotion of the scheme by the relevant county councils involved, activation of the section 23 initiative announced recently, and the removal of uncertainty in relation to the operation of the commercial and industrial incentives, significant progress will be achieved in the towns designated. The scheme will run to 31 December 2003.
