Property tax: Freezing of levels welcome

The decision by the Government to effectively freeze property tax to current levels will be welcomed by the hundreds of thousands of householders fearing that an increase in the value of their properties would mean they would have to dig even deeper to keep a roof over their heads.

As the Cabinet prepared to meet in Lissadell House, Co Sligo yesterday, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said there would be no ‘sudden shocks’ for property owners in terms of increased property taxes in the next budget.

When homes and properties were given valuations in 2013, the Government gave a commitment that the tax would remain unchanged until 2017.