Dublin City Council Set to Vote on Urgent Property Tax Increase

UPDATE: Dublin City Council is poised to vote today on a significant increase to the local property tax rate, marking the first hike in a decade. The council’s ruling coalition, including Fine Gael, the Green Party, Fianna Fáil, and the Labour Party, is set to approve an increase that could generate up to €16.4 million annually.

The special council meeting, scheduled for later today, will address a proposed increase that reverses a 15% cut made in previous years. If approved, the local property tax rate will rise to the baseline level, ensuring crucial funding for housing maintenance, road repairs, and initiatives to tackle vacancy and dereliction in Dublin. The new rate is expected to be effective until 2029.

Cllr. Colm O’Rourke, the Fine Gael Group Leader, emphasized the urgent need for better infrastructure, stating, “Residents across Dublin City have had enough of poor-quality footpaths and roads riddled with potholes. Communities have consistently called for improvements, and it’s time those calls were properly answered.”

In support of the increase, Cllr. Janet Horner, Green Party Group Leader, noted, “No one should be living in damp, mouldy, or cold conditions in our Council housing. The revenue raised here takes a meaningful step to end that injustice.”

Meanwhile, Cllr. Daryl Barron of Fianna Fáil highlighted the importance of additional funding for apprenticeships, stating, “We also welcome the much-needed boost of €1 million towards apprenticeships that will deliver a more skilled workforce within our City Council.”

However, opposition is mounting against the tax hike. Sinn Féin’s Cllr. Daithi Doolan condemned the proposal, arguing that Dubliners are “unfairly punished” due to the high cost of living and housing. He stated, “This household charge is an unfair, regressive charge on people’s homes. With a record budget surplus of over €8 billion, it would be wrong to impose any increase in this household charge.”

The urgency of this vote comes as other councils in the area, such as South Dublin County Council, have opted for a 7.5% cut, while Fingal County Council has voted for a 5% cut. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown is the only council to implement the full 15% cut this year.

As the Dublin City Council prepares for this pivotal decision, residents are urged to stay informed about how these changes could impact their finances and local services. The outcome of today’s vote will have long-lasting effects on the community, paving the way for necessary improvements in housing and infrastructure.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as it unfolds.