Meath one of six local authorities to reject LPT increase

Meath is one of just six local authorities across the country not to increase Local Property Tax (LPT) for 2027, after councillors rejected a proposed 15 per cent rise at yesterday’s (Monday) full council meeting.

The increase, recommended by Meath County Council , would have generated around €3.4 million in additional revenue each year.

The decision followed a public consultation on the proposed variation, with 78,819 properties liable for LPT in Meath.

The proposed increase would have added €14.25 a year for properties in Band 1, valued up to €240,000, rising to €64.20 for Band 4 and above, covering properties valued over €420,000.

For 2027, 25 of the 31 local authorities have opted to increase LPT, leaving Meath among the six that have not.

Meath has never previously varied its LPT rate and was also one of three local authorities to retain the basic rate for 2026.

Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe said the additional revenue was needed as the council faced increasing costs and pressure on its finances. He also pointed to Meath receiving less local revenue from LPT than many other local authorities and said the council would continue to press for fairer funding.

However, councillors raised concerns about asking households to pay more at a time of high living costs.

Sinn Féin councillor Eddie Fennessy said the proposed increase “takes no account of ability to pay” at a time when hard-pressed families were “burdened with huge mortgages on modest homes”.

“Whilst we acknowledge that increasing the property tax by 15 per cent would give the council greater spending power to deliver services, at what cost to local families, we ask,” he said.

Ashbourne Fine Gael Cllr Alan Tobin highlighted what additional revenue could potentially deliver, particularly in rapidly growing areas such as Ashbourne.

He said the town lacked sufficient open space and community facilities, while sports clubs and community groups were under pressure. He pointed to one club which had turned away around 200 children and said additional funding could support outdoor exercise equipment, pocket parks, native tree planting and improved green spaces.

Laytown/Bettystown Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade said he would support an increase if there was a clear guarantee that the additional money would be spent on specific local improvements.

“I'd support the full 25 per cent,” he said, if councillors could be assured the money would deliver particular services and projects in local areas.

However, he said that was not what was being proposed and favoured leaving the rate unchanged.

Ratoath Cllr Maria Murphy said Meath’s position as a commuter county had to be considered, particularly given the cost of housing in areas such as Dunboyne.

She highlighted the pressure on young families from mortgages and childcare costs, and said neighbouring commuter counties had not imposed the full 15 per cent increase.

Trim Social Democrats Cllr Ronan Moore said LPT could be viewed as a “less debilitating” and more progressive means of raising local revenue than some alternatives, but said councillors needed to know exactly what an increase would achieve.

He said he would want a “crystal clear” indication of the benefits to local communities before supporting an increase.

Laytown/Bettystown Independent Cllr Carol Lennon questioned whether rising property values could fairly be used as an indication of a household’s ability to pay.

“There is no fairness in LPT,” she said, arguing there was no need for an increase “not now and not soon”.

Independent Trim Cllr Noel French said retaining the existing rate provided certainty for households.

The public consultation received 14 submissions, with affordability, the increased cost of living and the need to spend local taxes locally among the issues raised.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme