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Dublin City Councillors support abolition of Local Property Tax printable version

14 Jul 2014: posted by the editor - Ireland

Dublin councillors have overwhelmingly passed a motion supporting the maximum reduction of 15% in Local Property Tax allowed under legislation and further called on the Government to abolish the Local Property Tax and replace it with a wealth tax.

Speaking immediately after today's meeting in City Hall, Cllr. John Lyons of the People Before Profit Alliance said: "The message we have sent out tonight from the council chamber is that the hated property tax must be scrapped and in its stead a real tax on wealth be introduced. The burden of this financial crisis has been placed too heavily upon the backs of middle and low income earners and the most vulnerable in Irish society and has caused tremendous hardship for many. We need a radical change of direction: demanding that the property tax be scrapped is a good first step."

People Before Profit's Cllr. Brid Smith believes the replacement of the local property tax with a wealth tax is possible, practical and implementable if the political will exists: "There are 36,000 adults in this country with a combined wealth of some € 130.2 billion, which amounts to € 3.8 million each; so the wealth is there. These people can most certainly afford to absorb a new tax; on the other hand, the hundred of thousands of people struggling day to day to pay their bills, heat their homes and feed their families cannot afford the local property tax. For many, the tax on the family home has pushed them over the edge and into poverty."

Cllr. Lyons concluded: "The councillors of Dublin City adopted a motion this evening that reflects a genuine feeling held by many right across Ireland, that the rich, having caused the near collapse of our banking system six years ago, are getting richer, increasing the wealth year on year and paying little in tax, whilst the rest of us pay the price for their greed and recklessness. This situation has become intolerable for many and must end. The abolition of the property tax would be a start."

Tags: Local Property Tax, Dublin Council

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