Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The legislation states the property tax must be reset to the base rate every year. This means if a council has a rate above the base rate, for example, 6%, as it is in Wicklow, it has to restate every year the rate is increasing whereas in actual fact the rate is not increasing. Could the legislation be changed to eliminate the requirement to return to the base rate each year and have the actual tax as the starting point? A positive development is the use of the discretionary fund to the municipal district. This allows a greater say over spending locally. It is something I promoted when I was chairman of Wicklow County Council. Spending in Ireland is too centralised and there is much benefit in spending being done by people close to the issues, namely, local councillors and local officials. I ask that the amount of property tax allowed for the discretionary fund be increased.

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