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Galway homeowners facing huge hikes in property tax
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Homeowners across Galway could be facing hikes of up to 150 percent on their property tax due to the soaring price of property.
A top Government advisor is warning new measures must be put in place before the current property tax freeze ends in 2019 to prevent major tax shocks.
Property tax is currently frozen until 2019 – a move introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2016.
According to the Irish Independent, Government advisor Dr. Don Thornhill is now warning that new measures must be enacted before then – to avoid households being hit by sudden taxation shocks.
The soaring value of property across Galway means that the absence of any new property tax measures could see homeowners hit by some of the biggest increases in the country.
Ballinasloe, Tuam and Clifden are all facing major increases of 150 percent – with the current average property tax of €90 set to rise to €225 based on home prices in May of this year.
Athenry would also be facing sharp hikes of around 80 percent – from €225 to €405.
Meanwhile, property tax for city homeowners would rise by around 30 percent – from €315 to €405.
Nationally, Arklow, Cavan, Athy, Cashel and Bandon are facing the biggest surges – from €90 to €315, a 250 percent increase on the current rate.
Loughrea is one of the few areas in Ireland that looks set to buck the trend – with property tax predicted to drop from €225 to €90 in 2019.
That’s a decrease of 60 percent – the largest decrease in the country alongside Ballina in Co. Mayo and Cahir in Co. Tipperary.
Measures being suggested to prevent the surge in property tax rates in 2019 include extending the current freeze or granting local authorities greater powers to reduce rates.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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