Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013
77. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the consultation that has taken place to date with Dublin City Council regarding areas of eligibility for the living city initiative; if he has any figures on the number of individual properties likely to be eligible in the Dublin City Council area if the living city initiative gets approval by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51739/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that I announced in my Budget Statement that the Living City Initiative, which was enacted in the Finance Act 2013, would be extended to now include the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny as well the original target cities of Limerick and Waterford. The inclusion of these four cities within the Initiative followed the results of a thorough independent ex ante cost benefit analysis. The Initiative will target certain areas of these six cities, particularly those areas which are most in need of regeneration. Those designated areas will be decided upon following consultations with the relevant local authorities and other Government agencies. These consultations have not yet taken place but are expected to commence shortly. It is not yet possible to estimate the number of properties which might be eligible in any of the cities but I have made it clear that I do not see this as a wide-spread Initiative, as it is targeted at those areas which are most in need of attention.
The submission to the European Commission seeking State Aid approval will also be issued shortly.
