Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
156. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance his plans to expand the boundaries of the special regeneration areas under the Living City Initiative scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53290/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in order to qualify for tax relief under the Living City Initiative, a property must be located wholly within a “special regeneration area”. This condition is provided for by s. 372AAB (1) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 which provides as follows:
"qualifying premises' means a relevant house -
(a) the site of which is wholly within a special regeneration area,"
The special regeneration areas for the Living City Initiative were designated following consultation with the relevant city councils and an independent review by a third party adviser. Specific criteria were set down in respect of the areas which should be included within the remit of the Living City Initiative which were required to be taken into account by the relevant city councils when putting forward the proposed Special Regeneration Areas for each city. In particular, it was stated that the Special Regeneration Areas should be inner city areas which are largely comprised of dwellings built before 1915, where there is above average unemployment and which demonstrate clear evidence of neglect, dereliction and under-use. It was specified that areas which are generally regarded as affluent, have high occupancy rates and which do not require regeneration should not be included in the Special Regeneration Areas.
I have no plans at present to amend the special regeneration zones.
