Clare County Council votes to retain local property tax at current rate

Clare County Council has agreed to retain the Local Property Tax (LPT) for the term of the Council 2025-2029 at the same level as the previous five years.

This will secure €58 million in funding for the operational needs of the local authority and support significant community services.

Following the vote to set the LPT during a meeting of Clare County Council on Monday evening, September 9, Chief Executive Pat Dowling said that maintaining the Local Property Tax at the same rate for the next five years "brings certainty for the Council and our budget process."

"It also gives certainty to Clare property owners at a time of significant economic change and rising costs," he said.

A motion was proposed by Shannon councillor Donna McGettigan that the LPT be brought back to the basic rate, which was seconded by her Ennis and Sinn Fein party colleague Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle.

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However, councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaing the LPT at its current rate.

“Inflation in recent years has reached approximately 19%, while Local Property Tax has remained static," added Noeleen Fitzgerald, Director of Finance and Support Services.

"More than half of the property owners in Clare are in the lower band of the Local Property Tax, paying €103.50 per annum at the current rate – a rate that has been in place since 2020. Another 27% of Clare property owners pay €259 annually in property tax," she continued.

Cathaoirleach Alan O’Callaghan said, “The €58 million raised through the local property tax in Clare will support significant community grant schemes, library services, lifeguards on our beaches and other essential services for the county and its citizens.”

For further information, see Clare LPT.

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