‘Residents deserve better’, meeting hears

Residents of estates in Cork which have not been taken in charge should not have to pay Local Property Tax (LPT), a county councillor has said.

Independent Ireland councillor Ger Curley has called for an LPT waiver scheme to be put in place for “utterly frustrated” residents whose estates are falling into severe disrepair across county Cork.

Speaking at Monday’s full meeting of Cork County Council, Cllr Curley said he has been getting regular phone calls from such residents.

He said: “I brought this motion to the chamber this morning because of the utter frustration felt by many residents by the lack of maintenance and upkeep in estates across the county.

“One particular estate in Ballynoe in Cobh, a resident recently put up a petition that the estate be taken in charge. This estate doesn't have potholes; it has craters. This estate has been finished for over 30 years, and the developer has gone bust.

“Cluain Ard in Cobh, one of the largest estates, has also not been taken in charge,” added Cllr Curley.

The LPT is an annual charge on residential properties in Ireland paid to Revenue which is shared amongst local authorities for the provision of services such as maintenance. However, if a housing estate is not taken in charge by a local authority, it cannot benefit from these services, despite residents in the estate having paid the LPT.

Cllr Curley continued: “These residents deserve better, and they know well that LPT income covers services around the county for libraries and road services, etc. But the ordinary man or woman who has to pay the LPT really only cares about their estate.

“When we as councillors inquire about getting work done, we are told there is insufficient money to take over an estate, but the longer these estates go on this way, the more expensive it is to take over that estate,” said the councillor.

Cork County Council will write to Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, calling for a waiver scheme to be put in place for households paying LPT in estates that have not been taken in charge but have been completed for at least five years.