Madam Speaker, the House will recall that in 2007, mandatory social programs were introduced for projects under the Integrated Resort Scheme. These programs required developers to contribute Rs200,000 per residential property sold in order to contribute to the social and economic upliftment of the neighbouring community where the project is implemented. In 2009, following the implementation of the Corporate Social Responsibility, what we call CSR, IRS promoters were given the option to implement a CSR programme, finance an approved NGO or remit their contributions to the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF). In 2015, when the Property Development Scheme was introduced to replace the previous schemes, a social contribution of Rs200,000 per residential unit sold was maintained. However, Regulation 10(1) of the Economic Development Board (Property Development Scheme) Regulations 2015 required that the promoters use their contributions for the financing of social programmes identified by a social needs analysis, carried out, unfortunately, by the promoters themselves for the neighbouring community. But as from 20 April 2024, Regulation 10 was amended to provide for the contributions of promoters to be credited to the National Resilience Fund. Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Economic Development Board that since the introduction of the Property Development Scheme, 63 projects have been issued with a

23 certificate comprising 3,006 residential units, of which 1,093 have been sold. This represents a contribution of Rs218.6 million. I am also informed by the Economic Development Board that as of date, out of the social contribution of Rs218.6 million – (a) around Rs129.6 million has been spent on social projects by the promoters themselves, and (b) Rs9.7 million has been transferred to the National Resilience Fund. Therefore, unspent social contribution of around Rs80 million is not accounted for at this point. There is no clear indication of where the sum of Rs80 million is. The Economic Development Board has been asked to look into it. Government is in the process of completely reviewing the operations of the Economic Development Board and this will include the way the Property Development Scheme has been implemented over the years.

Hon. Fourth Member for Rodrigues! RODRIGUES, PLAINE CORAIL AIRPORT – NEW RUNAWAY CONSTRUCTION