Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

10:37 pm

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When the local property tax was first introduced, we were told it was intended to improve services and infrastructure, such as roads, across the State. It has not done that. Therefore, I can understand the frustration, anger and bewilderment experienced by families, especially ordinary working families, when they hear the local property tax will be increased and will include sheds, outhouses and, in the case of farm families, farm outhouses and buildings. It is very wrong. People were deceived when the local property tax was introduced because we were told services would be improved as a result.

In my constituency of Laois-Offaly, at least, we are not seeing the benefits of improved services in respect of increased funding for roads. This seems to be an ongoing problem and many counties are in the same boat. It is not right. The local property tax, its purpose and the rationale under which it was introduced must be reviewed. I would go so far as to refer to the deception concerning this local property tax. I state that because we have not seen any improvement in services. It is adding insult to injury to expect ordinary working families now to pay more. Many of these families are hard pressed with mortgages and are receiving very little fairness from banks if they want to restructure mortgages.

We need to bear in mind that this is another heavy financial burden on ordinary working families. They do not see the benefit in paying the property tax, which is the problem. It is why there is so much anger and frustration around property tax.

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