Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress of the consultations to determine the areas to be included in the living cities initiative in each of the four cities involved; the status of the application to seek state aid approval; and the way applications are to be made under the Initiative. [16768/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Officials from my Department have held preliminary discussions with the relevant local authorities to identify the areas of the six cities, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford, which might fall within the scope of the scheme. Each of the local authorities have now submitted proposals on the areas which they believe should be included. Further discussions will be held in due course.

An application for EU State Aid approval was submitted on 27th March and we look forward to hearing from the European Commission.

The principle of how applications would be made under the scheme are set down in the legislation, which sets out, for example, a general "pre" and "post" inspection process by the local authorities to ensure that work conforms to local planning rules etc. However, the specific method of making applications will be finalised following further discussions with the local authorities and the Revenue Commissioners.