Wicklow County Council Votes To Increase The Local Property Tax.

21 members voted in favour of the move and 11 voted against.

Wicklow County Council has voted to increase the Local Property Tax by 6% this year.

21 members voted in favour of the move and 11 voted against following a meeting on Monday evening.

Sinn Féin Councillor Dermot "Daisy" O'Brien was among those who voted against the motion.

He says the tax is not fit for purpose:

This decision means that householders in Wicklow will face no increase to their LPT payments in 2025, while it generates €1.3m in funding for the Council.

This funding is ring-fenced for discretionary use by the Elected Members of the 5 Municipal Districts to support local projects in these areas including footpath repairs, public realm initiatives and supporting local community organisations.

Bray Municipal District will receive €314,200 with the other 4 Districts Arklow, Baltinglass, Greystones and Wicklow each receiving €235,650.

Local Property Tax is an important funding source for local authorities and contributes towards the cost of providing a range of local Council services including libraries, public lighting, road maintenance, housing services, fire services, community grant scheme, littering and tourism development initiatives.

Projects supported directly through the LPT Discretionary Fund include among others:

• Footpaths at Templerainey Heights – Arklow MD
• Installation of additional benches and bins in Aughrim – Arklow MD
• Footpath renewal on Carnew Road, Shillelagh - Baltinglass MD
• Purchase of inclusive equipment for Blessington Playground - Baltinglass MD
• Civil works for Enniskerry Playground – Bray MD
• Springfield Cemetery resurfacing works and seating installation – Bray MD
• Provision of Big Belly Bins throughout the district – Greystones MD
• Funding of the Killincarrig Village Enhancement Scheme - Greystones MD
• Magheramore and Brittas Bay line markings and signage - Wicklow MD
• Purchase of salt boxes for housing estates – Wicklow MD

The full €1.3m generated will remain entirely within the local district areas for allocation from their Discretionary Fund.

Cllrs Ian Neary, Peir Leonard, Tom Fortune, Dermot Daisy O' Brien, Warren O' Toole, John Snell, Gerry O' Neill, Orla Finn, Malachaí Duddy, Pat Kennedy and Joe Behan all voted against the motion.