Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the proposed tax incentive for persons living in cities included in the Finance Bill, if he will clarify where the incentive scheme for rural areas is. [9025/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the proposed Living City Initiative is a pilot project which seeks to encourage people back to the centre of Irish cities to live in buildings of historic and cultural importance as well as encouraging the regeneration of the retail heartland of central business districts. This modest pilot project is targeted at Waterford and Limerick cities, both of which were identified by Pobal as being the most disadvantaged urban areas in Ireland. As the proposed pilot Initiative will undergo a Cost Benefit Analysis and will require EU State Aid approval, it will be subject to a Commencement Order.

I would like to remind the Deputy that Finance Bill 2013 contains a number of measures which are specifically targeted at the rural community. The proposed stock relief measures for young trained farmers and for registered farm partnerships have been welcomed by the farming community. Proposals to extend the relief from stamp duty on transfers of agricultural land to young trained farmers have also been welcomed.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the total amount of tax relief claimed countrywide under the charitable donations scheme for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9028/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Section 848A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) provides for a scheme of tax relief on donations to approved bodies. The list of approved bodies for the purposes of section 848A, which includes eligible charities, bodies approved for education in the arts and eligible primary, secondary and third level institutions, is available on the Revenue website at www.revenue.ie. The following table sets out the figures for refunds of tax made by Revenue to charities and other approved bodies in respect of donations by PAYE workers, self-employed individuals and corporate donors for the years in question.