Councillor welcomes vote by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to reduce property tax by 15% for 2023

Fine Gael Councillor John Kennedy says he welcomes the vote at last night’s meeting of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to reduce local property tax by 15% for the year ahead.

The vote was carried with 24 councillors in favour and 16 councillors against.

“Given the current cost-of-living crisis, I advocated for this reduction along with my Fine Gael colleagues as the property tax typically paid in the area is at the very highest level in the whole country,” he said.

“To have voted against this reduction would have been an additional factor worsening the inflationary environment locally.

“I was concerned however that while the council indicated that they will receive an extra €15.74 million in the 2023 local property tax allocation due to the end of property tax equalization and the inclusion of new-build properties for the first time, but there will be a corresponding grant reduction from the Government which after my enquiries made at the meeting would relate mainly to social housing funding to be received.

“It is imperative that the council should seek the restoration of the same effective level of grants as paid in previous years from the Department of Housing, and also that additional transport grants are paid to the council.

“The end of equalization of local property tax as I called for was meant to herald a boon of extra income for the council but as with Dublin City Council pressure should be placed to ensure the intended spirit of this benefit is realised in real terms.”