Fine Gael not protecting vulnerable despite claims

I wish to comment on Michael Clifford’s piece on ‘Property Tax: Playing politics with vulnerable’ (Irish Examiner, September 24)

Journalist Michael Clifford made the statement that Fine Gael were the surprise protectors of the most vulnerable. Has he amnesia to the fact that people in Cork County will still pay 90% of the original property tax? People are paying their share already and also pay again through general taxation. What we in Sinn Féin sought was a small break for those already struggling to pay the full property tax bill.

And yes I do agree with him, in that property tax policy of Fine Gael/Labour will allow those with bigger houses (whom I may add are not always the wealthiest) to get a bigger decrease, but that’s government policy not Sinn Féin policy.

Cork County Council again this year will receive reduced central funding from Government, which has been consistently cut year after year, but I don’t hear Fine Gael complain or Michael point this out.

Local property tax was meant to be additional funding that would enable councils to provide additional services — that’s not what happened and I wish Michael would had made that more clear.

Services are constantly cut in Cork County and across this state, not because lower income people are not paying their fair share, it’s because Fine Gael/Labour and previously Fianna Fáil ignore the vast amount of wealthy in this state that are not paying their fair share.

Cllr Melissa Mullane

Oakdale House

Upper Duhallow Park

Mallow

Co Cork