Department of Environment revealed that thousands of homeowners could receive cuts to their Property Tax, as per The Journal.ie.
The Department identified nine local authorities that can reduce tax while still providing essential services. Dublin City, Dun Laoighaire-Rathdown, Wicklow, Fingal, Clare and South Dublin are the six local authorities that have been advised that they have flexibility to reduce bills by as much as 15 percent next year.
Cork City and Cork County have been told they can make cuts of 10 percent while Kildare Country Council can introduce 7.5 percent reduction.
Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said, "We have also recognised the contribution made by other local authorities with property bases with greater values by providing additional discretionary income for them."
"This will allow local authorities where property tax levels are highest to implement a full 15 per cent reduction of the local property tax (LPT) should the elected members vote for it or alternatively to increase the level of public services that they are providing."
"The local property tax is designed to become a stable and sustainable source of funding and will enable local authorities to become more self-sufficient in terms of their funding. This will provide Government with more options in terms of other taxation and expenditure policies in our future budgets."
Currently, councils channel 20 percent of the collected tax to Government-operated "equalisation fund" and retain the 80 percent of the monies.
Mr Kelly also said that all local authorities will be funded and 80 percent will be retained locally, according to The Irish Times.
He said, "While local authority members have full discretion over whether to reduce or increase the local LPT rate, I would ask them to be mindful of certain vital local services that could benefit from that funding such as homelessness services."
The decision about the rates will be discuss with the Revenue Commissioners, which is due on Sept 30.
