Govt lifts cap on retail outlets
The Government has lifted its cap on the size of retail outlets in Ireland, paving the way for furniture superstore Ikea to enter the Irish market.
The Swedish giant threatened to set up in Belfast if planning restrictions were not relaxed for a proposed site in Ballymun, north Dublin.
The Cabinet agreed today to Minister for the Environment Dick Roche's amended regulations for out-of-town retail parks to allow the multi-million euro development.
The new rules will only apply to four areas of Dublin as well as to towns designated as “gateways” under the National Spatial Strategy.
Minister Roche's spokesman confirmed that the rules will not apply to food outlets.
