Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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218. To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects to be in a position to extend the Living City Initiative; if it will include all Georgian buildings in Dublin city which are used as principle private residences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4175/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I announced in my Budget Statement that the Living City Initiative, which was enacted in the Finance Act 2013, would be extended to now include the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny as well the original target cities of Limerick and Waterford. The inclusion of these four cities within the Initiative followed the results of a thorough independent ex ante cost benefit analysis.

The Initiative will target certain areas of these six cities, particularly those areas which are most in need of regeneration. Those designated areas will be decided upon following consultations with the relevant local authorities and other Government agencies. These consultations have just commenced. It is not yet possible to estimate the number of properties which might be eligible in any of the cities but I have made it clear that I do not see this as a wide-spread Initiative, as it is targeted at those areas which are most in need of attention.

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