Gilmore defends claim to cut property tax

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has denied accusations that his party’s plan to include a 15% cut in property tax in its local election manifesto was “auction politics” aimed at securing more votes.

He said property tax legislation allowed for local authorities to vary the tax by 15% and he expected there would be scope for reduction in large urban areas where property values are much higher than rural areas.

“I expect when local authorities come to draw up their annual budgets at the end of next year, where property values are high, where property taxes are high and where densities are high, they will be able to reduce the property tax by up to 15%,” he said.