Advertisement

Newstalk Breakfast debate: Dublin City Council votes against property tax increase

Sinn Féin has insisted Dublin City Council can address the €39m shortfall in its budget withou...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

08.50 22 Sep 2020


Share this article


Newstalk Breakfast debate: Dub...

Newstalk Breakfast debate: Dublin City Council votes against property tax increase

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

08.50 22 Sep 2020


Share this article


Sinn Féin has insisted Dublin City Council can address the €39m shortfall in its budget without significant increases to the Local Property Tax.

City Councillors last night voted 34 to 21 to keep property tax as it is - despite concerns over the ongoing costs associated with COVID-19 and the expected fall in income from commercial rates and parking.

Sinn Fein joined Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in voting to keep the current 15% cut in place – with the Green Party and Labour calling for a 5% increase.

Advertisement

Newstalk Breakfast debate: Dublin City Council votes against property tax increase

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

   

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Labour councillor Dermot Lacey and Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan debated the decision.

Councillor Lacey said the 5% increase would have generated around €13m for services in the city.

“It's not so much that I favoured it, it’s necessary,” he said. “We have a gap of about €40m in the City Council budget.

“When we come to the budget in around two months’ time, we either cut services or we increase rates and rents.

“The property tax proposal we made was for a 5% increase which would have meant about 60c per week per person who pays a local property tax. We think that's better than cutting services.

“Last night we were faced with the very simple issue of the maths of the €40m shortfall.”

Shortfall

Councillor Doolan insisted that it remains possible to address the shortfall without increasing the tax.

“We opposed it because the property tax is unfair, it is unjust and, particularly this time, to tax the family home at a time of uncertainty is, we think, unacceptable.

“We put forward a 15% reduction, which would save the average householder €60 years ago a year.

"When we were the largest party, we delivered a budget surplus year on year and we were able to put money into community services and we intend to work with other parties including the Labour Party to do the same this year.”

"Simple maths"

Councillor Lacey said there is “never a popular time to raise taxes” but warned that that Dublin city Councillors were last night faced with some very simple mathematics.

“We have to deliver a budget with a €40m shortfall in the next couple of months,” he said.

“No posturing by Sinn Féin can get over that reality. I want to see a real local council charge – Sinn Féin run away from every single possible charge and they are the only left-wing party in the world, of any substance, that oppose property taxation.”

Councillor Doolan said the property tax disadvantages Dublin and only accounts for about 2% of the council’s budget.

“Even if we did increase it, would make very, very little impact on the overall budget,” he said.

You can listen back here:

Newstalk Breakfast debate: Dublin City Council votes against property tax increase

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

   


Share this article


Most Popular