Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed with the Minister of State's answer. We cannot lay this issue at the feet of elected members of county councils. They cannot manage the austerity that is being imposed upon them and nor can the people whom the Government is trying to get to empty their pockets again. These are people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic and are already suffering severe financial stress. We cannot go back to them and ask for more. It is completely unfair for the Minister of State to argue that the solution is to increase the property tax. We will certainly not agree to that. I ask the Minister of State to rethink this and value the services provided by local authorities.

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