Councils cut property tax rate; Cork explains why maximum cut was not agreed

A series of local authorities around the country have voted to cut their property tax rates next year.

Three of the four Dublin councils backed a 15% rate drop yesterday, while Fingal will decide today.

However Kerry and Galway have opted not to impose a rate cut.

Cork County Council has voted to implement a 10% cut instead of the full 15% that was possible.

County mayor Councillor Alan Coleman said: "We felt we could reduce it by 10% without impacting next year on the services which were delivered in 2014.

"We felt if we went any deeper with the cut, there would be a serious reduction in services delivery to the county."

Meanwhile, Dublin City Council boss Owen Keegan warned that public services could suffer as a result of Dublin city's 15% reduction in tax.

Green councillor Ciaran Cuffe said he was concerned about the provision of services after the cut.

"I think (Owen Keegan) was right when he said he didn't want the cut in the local property tax," he said.

"My fellow councillors were pandering to the electorate. It's really a race to the bottom, and I'm very worried about what that will bring."