THE Government has decided to designate two enterprise zones in unemployment black spots in Dublin.
Details of the proposals were finalised by Department of Finance officials last night and an amendment to the Finance Act is expected to be published today.
The designations of a 66 acre site in Finglas and an 80 acre site in Gallanstown were approved by Cabinet yesterday.
The Finglas enterprise area is expected to be based on all or part of a site adjoining Poppintree Industrial Estate, halfway between Finglas and Ballymun. The site has been owned since 1989 by Bovale Developments, a house building company controlled by Mr Tom and Mr Mick Bailey.
Finglas Chamber of Commerce has been pressurising the Government for more than a year to create an enterprise area at Poppintree because of high unemployment in the area.
Plans for the new enterprise zone include a research centre for Dublin City University.
The local Labour TD Ms Roisin Shorthall, welcomed the proposal, saying the tax designation would be similar to that operated in the International Financial Services Centre. She said the site would accommodate a mix of high and low tech industries.
"The Finglas area is an un-employment black spot and this project has the potential to generate 2,500 jobs during the construction period and over 3,000 jobs in industries which it will attract." She said jobs would be targeted by FAS at local people.
The Labour TD, Mr Joe Costello, said the Gallanstown plan would help create jobs in the area and ensure its future development. "This will ensure that both manufacturing and internationally traded service companies will be locating in Gallanstown in the future which will mean the creation of sustainable jobs in the area."
A Department spokesman said the tax designations will be in the form of capital allowances of 100 per cent, with a maximum of 50 per cent in the first year. Double rent allowances will be given for 10 years along with a 10 year rates remission on a sliding scale.
