Opposition to land tax

Cllr Michael O'Meara will be asking Tipperary Co Council to write a letter to government over the controversial Residential Zoned Land Tax.

He told the July meeting of Nenagh Municipal District that he has received representations from local farmers believing that they should be exempt from the tax. While he appreciated that the aim of the RZLT is to encourage development of idle land, Cllr O'Meara said there is very little likelihood of land being developed in rural Tipperary at the present time.

He mentioned that Fine Gael TD Michael Ring brought a motion seeking to exempt working farmers from the tax. Local representatives should follow suit, he said, adding that he would be raising the matter at the next meeting of the full council.

His view was supported by Cllr John Carroll, who pointed out that the RZLT is not intended as a revenue-generating exercise, and Cllr Ryan O'Meara, who agreed that farmers should not be penalised.

Senior Planner Anne Marie Devaney said imposition of the tax is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. The council published maps and facilitated an opportunity for people to make submissions on the rezoning of land. Only two submissions were received during the last opportunity, she said.