Carlow homeowners face LPT hike 

CARLOW Co Council has voted to implement a 15 per cent increase in local property tax (LPT) for the period 2026 to 2029.

The motion, proposed by cllr Fintan Phelan and seconded by cllr Fergal Browne, was backed by the majority of elected representatives following a presentation by PJ Leonard, director of finance for Carlow Co Council.

Chief executive Coilin O’Reilly recommended the increase ahead of the vote, highlighting the “transformative effect” that funding has had on public realm works and roadworks across the county. He committed that the additional €443,710 generated would be allocated entirely to municipal districts for councillors to decide how best to spend on behalf of their constituents.

The tax increase is expected to result in a total yield of €669,837 next year, with the executive citing demands for enhanced and expanded services as justification for the rise.

For households, the increase translates to what officials described as an average weekly increase of between 27 and 96 cents, depending on their tax band.

“It would mean in practical terms €14 per year for 55 per cent of households and €35 per year for 26% of households,” explained cllr Fintan Phelan. He emphasised the value to the local authority, saying the funding would have an “immense” impact on public realm improvements, footpaths, street cleaning and maintaining towns and villages across the county.

Four councillors opposed the measure. People Before Profit’s cllr Adrienne Wallace was particularly vocal in her opposition, arguing that the increase represents an unfair shift of financial burden from central government to local families.

“The general-purpose grant from the central government peaked at about one billion, whereas the annual proceeds of LPT is about half of that,” Ms Wallace said. “I don’t think the choice here is plus or minus 15 per cent increase. I think Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael are making a political choice to cut central funding and shift the burden onto families and pensioners.” 

Ms Wallace suggested the council should instead seek funding from central government, which, she claimed, is “sitting on a €13bn windfall” rather than “continue taxing working class people.” 

Cllrs John Cassin, Jim Deane and Anthony Gladney also voted against the proposal.

Independent cllr Will Paton questioned how the extra income would be distributed among municipal districts. Chief executive O’Reilly explained that allocation follows the ratio of councillors representing each district.

Addressing cllr Wallace’s concerns about central funding, Mr O’Reilly declined to engage in a debate over local property tax and local government funding structures, describing her comparison as “a simplification of a very complex way of funding".