Sir, – The elephant in the room is the huge increase in property tax that will fall into the Government’s lap in January 2016, only 14 months away, as a result of vastly increased property values over the past 18 months.
The 15 per cent reduction in the charge is a tiny concession in a market where prices have risen by over 60 cent in many areas. We are tied into paying these charges as, unlike in the case of water charges, provision has already been made to deduct this tax at source from wages, pensions, and unemployment benefit if we do not voluntarily pay up.
Property tax should cover provision of infrastructure for services to our homes.
This windfall to Government coffers should be ring-fenced and invested in upgrading the water service and fixing the leaks in our long neglected water system, leaving us to pay minimal charges for water provision.
– Yours, etc, ANNE-MARIE MOCKLER Marino, Dublin 3.