Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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192. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress of the Living City Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3397/15]

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 has now submitted proposals on the areas which it believes should be included. Further discussions will be held in due course.

My officials have also been in contact with the EU Commission on the application for State aid approval for the Initiative. A number of amendments were made to the Living City Initiative in Finance Act 2014 to ensure that the scheme was in accordance with EU State aid rules. These include the imposition of a cap on the level of relief for the commercial element of the scheme. This means the scheme now falls within the de minimisregulation. My officials are in discussions with the relevant local authorities and Revenue regarding operationalizing the scheme. Once the scheme is ready to commence I will make an announcement, in conjunction with my Cabinet colleagues and the local authorities concerned.

It is important to note 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.