Since the mid-1980s a succession of urban renewal schemes had succeeded in rejuvenating many inner city areas, and for the first time in decades many of these areas have had population increases. The Minister decided that the concept of tax incentives for the rejuvenation of urban areas could be applied to the upper Shannon area on a pilot and targeted basis. He introduced the scheme in the 1998 Finance Act having announced it in the budget for 1998 on 3 December 1997. His objectives for this scheme were to encourage people to remain in the area, to move into the area and to stimulate economic activity there.