Vast majority of councils can't cut property tax

The nine richest councils will probably be in a position to cut property tax by 15 per cent, writes Michael Brennan.

An aerial view of Lucan: the bigger the council, the bigger reduction it will be able to afford to give on the property tax. Picture: Peter Barrow

Minister Phil Hogan is due to issue advice to councils in the coming weeks about cutting the rate of property tax by up to 15 per cent.

It is the first difficult decision for the country’s newly elected councils, many of which are controlled by new ‘grand coalitions’ of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. And Sinn Féin, which wants to abolish the property tax if it gets into government, is in power sharing ...