A RADICALLY revised urban renewal scheme to replace the present blanket scheme of tax incentives in designated areas, which finally comes to an end in July next year, was announced last night.
The new scheme - from August, 1998, will involve a "more sophisticated approach", according to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, and Ms Liz McManus, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal.
It would be based on "a new concept of integrated area plans which will address not only issues of physical development such as appropriate use, quality of design and conservation, but will also cover wider issues of local socio-economic benefit".
Ms McManus told The Irish Times the year-long delay is to give local authorities time to draw up integrated area plans, as recommended by the Government-commissioned review of the existing, 11-year-old scheme.
"The area approach is taking root and some of the local authorities are ahead of us in drawing up these plans," she said. "What we are doing is setting out very clearly the framework they will have to follow to qualify for the new urban renewal incentives."
A statement from the two Ministers said the preparation of an integrated plan would involve "widespread consultation with local partners and participation by local communities". In each case, designation would first have to be justified to qualify for incentives.
Mr Howlin said this was intended to "address the drawbacks associated with previous schemes and secure a more targeted and focused approach to designation". However, it would be some months before details of the new incentives were finalised.
The Department of the Environment is to draw up criteria to assist local authorities in "prioritising areas for which integrated area plans should be prepared" and what to include in them the statement added.
As recommended in the review, an expert advisory panel is to assist in drawing up the criteria and guidelines, and to advise on proposals for tax designation.
