Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 474: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she considered acquiring a hall (details supplied) in Dublin 2 in order to provide future accommodation for students. [30207/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department does not provide student accommodation or direct financial assistance for the provision of such accommodation. In recognition of the difficulties students can experience in obtaining accommodation and following consultation with third level colleges, a special tax incentive was introduced to encourage the provision of dedicated student residential accommodation in section 50 of the Finance Act 1999. The tax incentive is available for expenditure up to 31 July 2006 where an application for full planning permission is received by a planning authority by 31 December 2004. The opportunity, therefore, exists to create significant additional accommodation for third level students. A rent a room relief scheme was introduced in the Finance Act 2001. It allows homeowners rent out a room in their homes and have rental income up to €7,620 a year tax free. The scheme encourages householders to rent rooms to students.

Denis O'Donovan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 475: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals she has for the purchase of a site for the construction of a new school (details supplied) in County Cork to replace the existing overcrowded and inadequate school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30211/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department on site acquisitions generally, is exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school referred to by the Deputy.

Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my Department's website when the relevant acquisitions have been completed.