Tag Archives: Local Property Tax (LPT)

LAST year Clare County Councillors voted to keep the Local Property Tax at the maximum that can legally be charged, but pressure for a reduction is likely to be high in 2023, as the worst inflation seen in decades is eroding people’s standard of living. Last year Shannon Independent councillor Gerry Flynn was one of just two members who were against keeping the amount paid by Clare householders at 15% above the standard rate, and at this week’s meeting of the local authority he called for a reduction in 2023. Prior to last week’s meeting he put a motion on the agenda in which he stated, “I am calling on the Councillors in Clare County Council to reduce the Local Property Tax by 15% when they are making a decision on the new rate. “Currently homeowners in Clare are paying 15% above the Government’s recommended standard rate as a result of a decision taken by local councillors. “This unjust tax …

THE founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group has warned of the serious mental and physical impact of any delays in extending redress to homeowners in this county. Dr Martina Cleary welcomed the news week that, last Friday, the local authority made a detailed submission to the Department of Housing asking that The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, which is currently only open to Mayo and Donegal, be extended to Clare. She cautioned, however, that any delay on the part of the government would have a detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of those living in defective homes. “The minister now has everything he needs to make the decision to extend the scheme,” Dr Cleary said. “He has the proof that the problem is the same as in County Mayo. There is no reason now to delay. The longer we’re left out of the redress scheme, the more our homes are going to deteriorate. What’s worse is that …

A SHANNON-based councillor has described himself as “very annoyed” at the lack of adequate funding to upgrade local authority housing stock. Councillor Gerry Flynn told the July meeting of the county council it is imperative that the authority make financial provision for the upgrades required to bring its vacant stock to a standard for rental, in order to assist applicants on the social housing list. The Independent councillor also requested that funding be provided for maintenance for existing tenancies in need of works. Acknowledging the fact that, at the same meeting, he had been one of only two councillors to vote against leaving the Local Property Tax in Clare at 15% above the standard rate, Councillor Flynn insisted his stance was “in no way contradictory”. “I received a brief form the Finance Department which outlines that there should be sufficient funds there,” he said. “However, €2m was siphoned off Housing to go to other funding streams. I’m very annoyed about …

CLARE’S Sinn Féin TD has sharply criticised the fact that Clare people, whose homes have defects proven to be linked to pyrite, must continue to pay Local Property Tax (LPT). Deputy Violet Anne Wynne, who last week raised the issue in the Dáil with the Tánaiste, said the lack of action for homeowners here is a source of huge frustration. The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is only open to Counties Mayo and Donegal and covers a maximum of 90% of remediation costs. Earlier this month, the government announced that those eligible for the scheme would get a six-year LPT waiver. Because Clare has not yet been included in the redress scheme, the LPT exemption does not apply here. Currently, at the request of the Department of Housing, Clare County Council is compiling a report on the scale of the pyrite issue here, with a view to making the case for the extension of the scheme. “Homeowners in Clare still …

AN OVERWHELMING majority of members of Clare County Council have voted to leave the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) for 2022 at 15% above the standard rate. Councillors have the power to increase or decrease the LPT by up to 15 per cent each year from the basic rate, which is calculated based on the value of a property. On the recommendation of Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling, members voted this week to retain the higher rate, with the aim of raising an additional €1.5m for the local authority. After a motion to leave the 15% hike in place was tabled by Councillor Pat Hayes and seconded by Councillor Joe Cooney, a bid to return to the standard rate was proposed by Councillor Gerry Flynn and seconded by Councillor Donna McGettigan. When put to the vote, 24 councillors were in favour of retaining the higher rate, two members were against and two were judged to be absent from the …

A DECISION on exempting homes with defective concrete blocks from Local Property Tax (LPT) will not be made until the local authority submits a report on the scale of the issue to the Department of Housing. The matter was raised at the local authority meeting by Councillor Donna McGettigan. On foot of her request to discuss an exemption, which central government is giving to homeowners in Donegal and Mayo, where a redress scheme for those affected by pyrite and mica is in place, an update was provided on the situation in Clare. “As everyone knows we passed four motions on this issue at our meeting last October,” Cathaoirleach Councillor PJ Ryan said. “Work is ongoing to have Clare added to the counties eligible to access the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. Testing and sampling is now complete and a grant provided by Clare County Council for this. “Over the coming weeks, the council will report to the Department and that …