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Urban Renewal Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 July 2014

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Ceisteanna (510)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

510. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address concerns that Dublin city centre is run down and that certain areas need to be renewed, including worn down shopfronts; his plans to introduce measures to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31478/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The downturn in economic activity associated with the recession has resulted in significant numbers of shop closures and vacant units in town and city centres. Other factors, such as upward only rent reviews, parking charges, rising energy costs and on-line trading have also undermined the viability of small and medium-sized businesses in the retail sector, with adverse implications for the fabric of our urban centres.

To help address this issue, a number of initiatives have been taken by my Department in recent years, as follows:

- local authorities were requested to exercise restraint, or where possible, to reduce commercial rates and local charges to assist local businesses in the current economic climate – the vast majority of local authorities have responded positively to this request,

- revised development contribution guidelines were introduced last year requesting planning authorities to put in place reduced development contributions to support town and city centre development and incentivise activity in the areas prioritised for development in the relevant core strategy, which resulted, for example, in an acknowledged 26% reduction in contributions applied to developments in the 4 Dublin local authority areas,

- the publication of new guidelines on retail planning last year aimed at promoting and supporting the vitality and viability of town and city centres. These guidelines are aimed at ensuring that planning supports competitiveness in the retail sector, promotes and supports the viability and vitality of city and town centres, and contributes to a high standard of urban design, encouraging greater use of sustainable transport.

In terms of Government action other than by my Department in providing assistance to retail businesses and stimulating economic activity in local communities, a number of measures have been introduced since 2011, including -

- the introduction of the 9% rate of VAT on certain goods and services,

- the halving of the lower rate of employers’ PRSI,

- the introduction of the croenterprise Loan Scheme and Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which have had take-up from the retail sector, and

- the extension of seed capital and the employment and investment incentive scheme to the retail sector.

My Department remains committed to working with other Government Departments, with local government and with other community development and enterprise stakeholders with a view to providing a clear framework for addressing urban centre decline and its impacts on the retail sector, and will continue to explore all options for further action in this regard.

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