Local Property Tax should be abolished for people over 70 says Laois councillor
Councillors in Laois have called on the government to abolish the Local Property Tax on the primary residence of those over the age of 70.
PEOPLE over the age of 70 should be exempt from paying the Local Property Tax (LPT) on their primary residence.
Laois councillors at their October meeting called on both the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Finance to consider such a proposal.
Setting out her reasons why LPT for over 70s should be abolished cllr Aisling Moran said: “ We are all well aware of the cost-of-living crises affecting all families. Home heating and energy costs are outrageous , they’re the highest in Europe and a huge burden for many as we head into a stormy winter. Inflation may have slowed down, but prices have not come down. Everything seems to be one third more expensive than it was. The average price of a shopping basket and to fill a tank of petrol or diesel have all sky-rocketed.”
She said: “There are concerning accounts of some people having to choose between heating and eating. This is not on.
“The government coffers are overflowing, the tax take was never higher. Yet ordinary families and people are anxious, hard pressed and feeling the pinch. We saw it last week with the protest by the hospitality sector. Cafés, restaurants and pubs, many of them long established family businesses are now with their backs against the wall because people are not going out, not socialising, not eating out, because they don't have the disposable income.”
Cllr Moran said: “It is against this backdrop and in this context that I am calling for this property tax relief for those over 70 years of age on their primary place of residence. It's the least we can do to show regard and respect for our senior citizens. They have paid their dues, paid their way, worked hard and paid their taxes, all their lives with little payback, particularly in the current climate.”
“The Government is flush. We can certainly afford this gesture of support and waive the property tax for the over 70's, especially at a time when the cost of living is sky high. Our senior citizens deserve it, and the Government has the funds to do it. They could easily include this measure in the Finance Bill which they are about to rush through the Dáil in advance of next month’s General Election,” she said.
Cllr Marie Tuohy agreed: “Takeaway that bill from that age group and the worry about it.”
