Alan Kelly (Labour)

I move recommendation No. 2:

In page 11, before section 1, to insert the following new section:

"PART 1

CHARITY STATUS OF TIDY TOWNS GROUPS

1.—Any group which in the opinion of the Minister formed or designed towards participation in a tidy towns scheme shall be entitled to benefit from charitable status for the purposes of the Principal Act.".

This is something to which I drew the Minister's attention yesterday. There seems to be some confusion in respect of the charitable status of Tidy Towns groups and inconsistencies in the way in which it works. While I will not press this amendment, I ask that we look at this issue because these groups carry out a significant volume of work. Birdhill, which is a parish near me, has won the award for a number of years and the amount of work it does is phenomenal.

I know the Minister said yesterday that a number of Tidy Towns groups have charitable tax status going back 20 years but others do not appear to have this status. We need a consistent approach to the way Tidy Towns groups are treated so that they can benefit from the work they do.