No funding for 11 who voted against LPT increase?

By Dan Walsh at Gorey Civic Centre

24-hours after a majority of members at Wexford County Council approved the Local Property Tax Local Adjustment Factor (LAF) at 15% over the next five years, (2025-2029) at Monday’s meeting at County Hall and some members at today’s monthly meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District in the Civic Centre Chamber, Gorey, called for “discretionary funds be held against those who voted against it!” That would impact on 11 elected members of the 34 on Wexford County Council.

The matter was raised by the current Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Pip Breen, and he was supported by Cllr Anthony Donohoe who suggested that somebody who voted against the tax increase be excluded from the benefits in funding. “The funding should only be distributed by the 23 members who voted in favour,” stated Cllr Donohoe.

“This is political, divisive, electioneering and I never heard anything like it before,” said an outraged Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, while Cllr Nicky Boland pointed out that it is a democratic right to vote as a member sees fit. “I got 1,341 first preference votes in the Local Elections and I represent 350 households,” he claimed.

Cllr Joe Sullivan complimented the Local Property Tax increase that will bring €1.9m a year or €10m over the next five years into Local Authority spending. “That is a huge investment in the county,” enthused Cllr Sullivan.

Cllr O’Súilleabhain accused Cllr Sullivan of “electioneering for your boss – Malcolm!” and Cllr Donohoe said he was “sick of it and the €7,000 increase should be taken back!”

Cllr Sullivan at this point said the proposal “may not be entirely legal”, while Cllr Mary Farrell declared that “there is a legal obligation to share” and suggested “the greater good is where we should be looking at!”

In conclusion, Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Oliver Walsh said it would be wise to take legal advice on the proposal and agreed with Cllr Donohoe that the matter be brought before the November meeting of Wexford County Council.

For the record. The outcome of Monday’s Local Property Tax vote was as follows; IN FAVOUR; (23) Cllrs Pip Breen, Aidan Browne, Cathal Byrne, Ger Carthy, Anthony Donohoe, Mary Farrell, John Fleming, Pat Kehoe, Leonard Kelly, Donal Kenny, Garry Laffan, George Lawlor, Darragh McDonald, Lisa McDonald, Barbara-Anne Murphy, Bridín Murphy, John O’Rourke, Michael Sheehan, Frank Staples, Robbie Staples, Joe Sullivan, Catherine Biddy Walsh and Oliver Walsh.

AGAINST; (11) Cllrs Pat Barden, Nicky Boland, Jim Codd, John Dwyer, Tom Forde, Paddy Kavanagh, Marty Murphy, Aoife Rose O’Brien, Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain, Jackser Owens and Raymond Shannon.