Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

On measures such as this, it is very important that the Minister should outline all the detail of the change and the reasons behind it. I join with Deputy Sean Fleming in asking the Minister who lobbied on this or who sought this change. Did other organisations seek a similar change? As a concept, I welcome any reliefs that are put in place to ensure the quality and standard of nursing homes will improve. Equally, the case could be made for student accommodation in this regard, which could go some way towards addressing the shortage of student accommodation across the city. Were other sectors or sections given consideration for inclusion in this provision? There also may be scope in respect of nursing homes that are as yet incomplete, of which I am aware of a few. Perhaps this is something on which the Government could move with the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, or with financial institutions.

While it is not strictly the Minister's area, based on my reading of the five or six year capital expenditure programme launched a few weeks ago, projected capital expenditure on health for 2016 is €414 million but projected capital expenditure on health for 2016 under last year's programme was €450 million. The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, might take up that point during his contribution over the next few days. Perhaps Deputy Buttimer, as the chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, will indicate if I am wrong that allocated capital spending on health of €450 million has been reduced. He might also clarify, if that is the case, what projects, which the HSE had in mind, have been shelved or delayed?

Will the Minister, Deputy Bruton, clarify if the EIS scheme, which follows on from the BES scheme, is limited to a geographic area? I think I am correct in saying that mid-east Dublin and Cork city, excluding the docklands, were not included in the EIS scheme. In other words, is this scheme geographic neutral? Does it apply right across the country or is there any area excluded? In responding to that question, the Minister might also indicate if sanction has been received from the EU in respect of the tax relief announced for Georgian properties in designated areas of Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny and Limerick?

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