Homelessness services could benefit from property tax

Councillors have been urged to be “mindful” that local homelessness services could benefit from funding from local property tax when agreeing on next year’s rate.

Local authority-elected members have been given the power to decide whether or not to increase or decrease LPT rates by up to 15% for 2016, but must inform the Revenue Commissioners of their intentions by September 30.

The Government has agreed that 80% of LPT will be retained locally to fund public services next year, with the remaining 20% re-distributed to provide top-up funding to local authorities with a lower LPT base.