Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 April 2017
307. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the operation of the business improvement district initiatives to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16067/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006 provided for the establishment of Business Improvement Districts within the functional areas of local authorities.
A Business Improvement District (BID) scheme is an organisational and financing mechanism with a legal basis, through which businesses can, on a self-help basis, develop and implement initiatives in defined areas to improve those areas for the betterment of the trading environment in which they operate. In a BID, a group of businesses are empowered, where a majority of those businesses agree, to raise a special levy payable by all the businesses in the defined area to pay for complementary local services and improvements, within that defined area.
The establishment of a business improvement district scheme in an individual area is a matter for the relevant local authority. I have no plans to amend the legislation in relation to BIDS but I will arrange for the operation of the initiative to be considered in the context of a possible broader engagement with ratepayers which is currently under consideration.
