How property tax brought Clare resettlement initiative to its knees

A voluntary housing group will ask Clare County Council to take on 21 of its properties amid warnings that the imposition of the property tax will lead to “a domino effect” as other organisations will be forced to follow suit.

Rural Resettlement Ireland has helped 750 families to move to predominantly private rented accommodation in the west, south-west and midlands since it was set up in 1990, with many moving to Co Clare.

But the organisation will hold an emergency meeting tonight at which founder Jim Connolly has said he will quit his role and call for the “orderly transfer” of 21 properties into the care of the local authority.