‘No special treatment’ on property tax

Enda Kenny last night refused to offer hope to urban dwellers who fear they will be penalised under the looming property tax compared with people in rural areas.

Plans for the tax due to be brought in next July have caused alarm that homeowners in city areas could end up paying twice the levy imposed on similar-sized houses in rural areas due to valuation fluctuations.

The Taoiseach said the details were still being worked out and he could not offer urban dwellers special treatment, saying that the charge would be “as affordable as possible” across the country.