I announced in my Budget Statement in December 2004 that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners would undertake a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. Certain schemes have been reviewed by two external consultancy firms. These were area-based tax incentive schemes, namely the urban, rural and town renewal as well as the living-over-the-shop schemes, and certain sectoral property-based schemes, namely the reliefs for investment in multi-storey carparks, park-and-ride facilities, student accommodation, third-level educational buildings, hotels, holiday cottages, private nursing homes, private hospitals, sports injuries clinics, child care facilities, as well as the general refurbishment scheme for certain rented residential accommodation.
As regards estimates of tax foregone under the schemes, I refer the Deputy to my reply to her parliamentary question of 18 October 2005 on this matter. The question of publication of the consultancy studies will be addressed in the budget.