The majority of homeowners will see local property tax (LPT) increases of between €5 and €25 following a revaluation of properties due to take place later this year.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is expected to brief the Cabinet today on proposed changes to the LPT charging mechanism that are designed to limit the impact of rising property values on householders’ LPT rates.
The revaluation of properties for the LPT regime, the first since 2021, is due to happen in November. There was an average 23 per cent increase in property prices nationally between November 2021 and the end of 2024.
Without any changes to LPT bands or rates, about 70 per cent of properties would move up at least one band, which would result in a significant increase in LPT.
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However, under the changes being proposed by Mr Donohoe, 97 per cent of properties are predicted to stay within the same band, with 3 per cent predicted to move up one band.
The Irish Times understands that, as a result of the planned changes, the new annual LPT rate for most homeowners after the revaluation will be between €5 and €25 higher depending on their property’s value.
Separately, Mr Donohoe is expected to seek Government approval for a six-month extension of the lower 9 per cent VAT rate on gas and electricity.
The VAT rate had been due to return to 13.5 per cent on May 1st but Mr Donohoe is proposing to bring a financial resolution to the Dáil on Wednesday to extend the 9 per cent rate to October 31st.
Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is to seek Cabinet approval for new regulations related to Garda conduct, performance and appointments.
This secondary legislation is needed to support the commencement of the major Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 from Wednesday onwards.
The Act brings into effect a number of recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
When the Act is commenced tomorrow, the new Policing and Community Safety Authority will replace the existing Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) will be restructured to become Fiosrú – the Office of the Police Ombudsman.
Among the new regulations is one that means Garda members can request an appeal against a final determination of gross misconduct, with an appeal being heard by a retired judge who would be an “impartial adjudicator” of the evidence.
Minister for Housing James Browne will tell Cabinet there has been an increase in housing commencements since the introduction of the development contribution waiver and Uisce Éireann connection charge rebate in April 2023.
Data shows 69,060 homes were commenced in 2024 compared with 26,957 in 2022, representing an increase of 156 per cent.
Developers now have 21 months left to complete these housing developments to qualify for the waivers. Mr Browne is expected to tell Cabinet the schemes will not be extended further.
Minister for Children Norma Foley is to bring a memo on allowing the State Claims Agency (SCA) to handle any potential claims relating to the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam.
The role of the office is to recover, where possible to identify, and re-bury in a respectful and appropriate way, the children who were inappropriately buried at the site of the former mother and baby institution in Tuam, Co Galway. Including the office under the SCA’s remit is said to be “standard practice” for newly established public bodies.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will brief colleagues on a 70 per cent fall in the number of patients on hospital trolleys over the St Patrick’s bank holiday weekend last month compared with St Brigid’s weekend in February.
Ministers will be told that an increase in on-site decision-making doctors was a significant factor in the reduction.
