Minister: Property Tax hike ‘would pay for cemetery extensions’

Three Galway West TDs who attended a meeting of Connemara councillors last week were asked to seek a national allocation of funding for the provision of more graveyard spaces in the region.

Minister of State and Galway West TD Seán Kyne, told the councillors that as things stood, there was no ‘national pot of money’ provided for local authorities to fund graveyard extensions or to purchase land for new burial grounds.

Minister Kyne also told councillors that he would make the case to Minister Michael Ring and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, for such funding to be provided – however, he said, ‘he knew he would be reminded’ that Galway County Council had chosen not to opt for any increase in the Local Property Tax (LPT).

He said that if a relatively modest increase of 5% had been passed in the LPT, a fund of about €750,000 could then be ringfenced for the graveyard extensions.

There were sharp clashes on Friday at County Hall on whether the issue of the LPT should be drawn into the ‘graveyard debate’ – Fianna Fáil councillor, Noel Thomas, said it was ‘disappointing’ that the LPT issue be mentioned as regards the graveyards issue.

“The fact of the matter is that Galway County Council is one of the most underfunded local authorities across the whole country. Rural people don’t have the services – it’s ludicrous to ask them to pay more by way of Local Property Tax,” said Cllr Thomas.

This is a preview only. For the full story, see this week’s Connacht Tribune