Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While the Taoiseach stated that the increase in local property tax for homeowners will be modest, when one looks at the graph published in theIrish Independent, it is clear the increases will be anything but. Simultaneously, he said during the Christmas period that it was his intention that local authorities would be able to retain all of the local property tax raised in their own areas. If he takes that course of action, there are a number of local authorities whose coffers will benefit. These include large counties like Dublin and, indeed, my own county, Meath. How will the Taoiseach square the circle, however, between what he calls modest increases for homeowners and his intention to allow local authorities to retain all the taxes raised? He has also committed the Government to meeting the budget shortfalls of less well-off counties. Is it the case that local authorities in counties such as Dublin and Meath will experience an increase in funding raised off the backs of homeowners in their own areas while central government funding is taken from them to be sent elsewhere?

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