Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The construction policy area is one of the three areas which were the focus of Mr. Wright's report. As has been remarked earlier, it is quite brief.

It is less than one page.

Mr Wright in his report states that as far back as 1999 the Department provided advice on the overheating of the construction sector. He mentioned there were assessments of risks from the Irish housing bubble. He went on to state that "the Government took limited action to moderate tax incentives for construction early in the decade and ... eventually in 2006 ... However this action was not sustained". What he did not include was the amount of property related construction tax incentives that were extended during that period early in that decade and in 2006. Did he investigate that or examine that area? The urban renewal scheme was extended twice over the period of the scheme, the living over the shop scheme was extended twice over the period of that scheme, the rural renewal scheme was extended twice up to 2006, there was also the park and ride scheme, the town renewal scheme and the student accommodation scheme, and the multistorey car park scheme was extended twice over the period of that scheme. There were all supposed to conclude in either 2002 or 2004 and they were extended up to 2006 or 2008.