Search the record

Gais electricity prices go up; on 13 October, Pinergy electricity goes upon 20 October, SSE Airtricity goes up; and on 1 November, local property tax charges go up. There you have it, Minister. Those are some of the body blows households will take literally days after the budget

dark, cold months of winter in circumstances where families, households and workers are going to be hit with increases in the local property tax, fuel costs for transport, student fees, insurance, rent and food. The list goes on. In the past week, four energy companies announced that they

They are being hit by rip-off prices at every turn. It is rent, food, insurance, petrol and diesel, student fees and local property tax. The cost of everything is sky high. There is no end to it. People cannot catch a breath at the moment

fill. Petrol and diesel prices went up in May and the Government will go for those again in October. Local property tax has risen. Rents have gone up. Students' fees, as we know, are also due to go up. The Government has shown no regard or sensitivity

extortionate rents, to hike up the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil and to hike up the price of the local property tax. Nobody else did this. These were all Government decisions. As if families were not hurting enough and as if they were not being

Seanad has passed the Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2025, without amendment

things the Tánaiste did not mention. For example, it passed legislation last night meaning every person in this State will pay more local property tax. Earlier this year, it put up the price of petrol and diesel. Also earlier this year, it put up the price

move to Committee and Remaining Stages of the Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill

recommended that we should not do what the Deputy is proposing. It said that "in the case of multiple property owners, a Local Property Tax surcharge should apply to properties not occupied as the principal private residence of the property owner or a registered tenant". The commission

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the percentage number of households that opted to defer payment of the local property tax in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will consider reducing further the interest rate penalty on the amount accrued-deferred. [16042/25

Minister to outline the percentage of households that opted to defer payment of the local property tax in the years 2023, 2034 and 2025 and if he will consider a further reduction in the penalty on the amount that has been deferred

Property owners who are experiencing financial difficulty may avail of a wide range of flexible payment options in respect of current local property tax, LPT, liabilities and for any previous years. To answer the Deputy's question on those accessing it, the number is quite

Minister of State's discussions with the county council? Like I said, Galway County Council is a particular case and raising the local property tax will not address the significant funding challenges that we have. On a bigger scale, we know that money is available. Investing

many other localities. However, they do not have staff available in their public offices to explain this tax to the people to whom I refer. They should be made to man those offices, provide a public service and explain to people what this tax is all about, particularly … then ensure, as it applies a reasonable property tax, that local authorities come up with a clear proposal to show how this money is being spent. The Government is putting the onus on local authority members to raise property tax because, no doubt, there will be plenty

rates and property tax. All other funding must come from central government. This further limits councillors' powers. The property tax was supposed to bring extra funding to the local authorities but all that happened was that it reduced Government grants. Some councils still do not retain … simply unfair. I ask that we consider using the taxes that are very much local based, for example, motor tax, the residential zoned land tax and the new derelict property tax. I understand the local democracy task force met six times and will produce a report in February

properties in 2027. Local authorities will still identify and assess derelict sites through their derelict sites registers. Crucially, the tax will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. This will provide consistency and effectiveness in tax collection and enforcement. While the final rate of the tax still … being applied and collected. That is what I want to address. Importantly, the future collection of the derelict property tax will not be the responsibility of the local authorities. As a result, the amendments proposed in this Private Members' Bill for a new section 23A to be inserted

cost-rental scheme by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage from on or after 8 October 2025. Construction Costs To further incentivise the provision of new homes, I am also introducing an enhanced corporate tax deduction for certain costs incurred on the construction of apartment developments … Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo. Adding special regeneration areas to these towns will require careful planning and preparation by the relevant local authorities. Derelict Property Tax We are also aware that dereliction continues to be a blight on our towns and cities. We need to bring those properties

initiatives, while at the same time, Opposition politicians take steps in local authorities not to take steps on local authority rates and the property tax, for example, which would give them the capacity to bring forward projects in the local area. That needs to be considered locally

lead-in time will be required for our local authorities to identify all the relevant derelict properties in their areas for inclusion on a register in a consistent manner. I intend to legislate for the derelict property tax in 2026. This is dependent on engagement from stakeholders … Attorney General. The timeline of bringing in the legislation in 2026 is necessary to allow local authorities to prepare and publish a preliminary register of derelict properties in 2027, with the tax coming into effect as quickly as possible thereafter. The yield from the derelict property tax will

Government and Heritage the steps he will take to tackle dereliction in advance of the introduction of the new derelict property tax; his plans to mandate local authorities to collect the millions in outstanding derelict sites levies; when the Government will introduce its new Compulsory Purchase Order Bill

derelict property tax, DPT, was announced in budget 2026 and the collection of this new tax will be the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners, as set out in action 4.1 of the Government's new national housing strategy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. This tax will replace the derelict … published by local authorities in 2027. Local authorities will continue to have a role in the process as updating and maintaining their derelict sites registers will continue to remain the responsibility of the local authorities. Derelict sites levies that remain outstanding and owed to the local authorities when

authorities. By strengthening compulsory purchase powers, activating the derelict sites levy and the proposed introduction of the derelict property tax alongside providing targeted funds and supports for regeneration through local authorities, we are shifting from isolated interventions to a whole-of-government approach. Crucially, these measures are designed … actions beyond the derelict property tax announced in the budget include the provision of a digital national derelict sites register, an increased number of properties on the derelict sites register, increased compulsory acquisition of properties where owners have failed to engage with local authorities and increased collection

income threshold grounds or hardship grounds. We should consider a reduction. I note in the changes announced that local authorities will have the option of increasing the property tax by up to 25%. That will allow scope for these households to be exposed to even greater liability

town and city areas providing much-needed homes for families. I want to see more local authorities availing of that scheme. Planning exemptions are available for the conversion of certain vacant commercial properties into residential use, which are proving successful. In 2024 alone, more than 290 exemption notifications … housing purposes, and if people are not going to use those carrots, the stick of the derelict property tax is coming. I encourage people to work with local authorities to use those schemes and bring those properties back into productive use, because what frustrates people most is seeing

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 … 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