‘It makes no sense one of Dundalk’s oldest estates is excluded’ from ‘Living Cities’ tax incentives
One of Dundalk’s oldest neighbourhoods is excluded from the government’s ‘Living Cities’ initiative, Louth County Council confirmed..
Cllr. Robert Nash told the local authority’s May meeting that it appeared Parnell Park has been left out of the scheme, which covers large parts of Dundalk.
He said that as the scheme brings tax incentives to encourage people to live in historic urban areas.
“Parnell Park is only 800 metres away from the town centre, there is pay parking in it, and yet it is deemed to be outside the ‘Living Cities’ map.”
He told councillors that the estate was built in 1913, and would therefore fall under the remit of the Living Cities initiative.
The meeting heard that other areas of Dundalk, which are further away from the town centre, are included in the initiative., which he said “makes no sense.”
“Is there anything we can do to get Parnell Park included in these maps? he asked, saying that people living in the area wouldn’t be able to avail of the tax incentives to add extensions to their homes.
He called for a case to be made to include Parnell Park in the scheme.
Director of Service, Thomas McEvoy told the meeting that the Living Cities maps, for special regeneration areas are “ultimately decided by the Department of Finance.”
He said the council did submit drafts which would have included the entire area of Dundalk and Drogheda, but a number of revised drafts had emerged.
“The requirements weren’t just the lines and the dates of buildings, but also the deprivation, unemployment etc, as there were several socio-economic measures taken into account.”
The final maps which were agreed and issued by the department didn’t include Parnell Park, he confirmed.
Mr. McEvoy said the council could continue to liaise with the department, and make a case as to why this area should be included.
“But for the moment, in this phase of the Living Cities initiative it is not included.”
The Living Cities initiative is a tax relief scheme designed to regenerate historic urban centers by incentivizing people to live in or convert derelict inner-city properties. The scheme offers significant tax breaks for the refurbishment of residential and commercial properties within designated Special Regeneration Areas (SRAs).