Gov. Intervention Sought After Athy LPT Cut By Over €200K

The issue has been raised by Athy Councillors

Government intervention is being sought after Athy's Local Property Tax has been cut by over €200,000 for the next three years.

In 2026, Athy received approximately €960,000 in LPT, with a cut for three years forecast to be 20 per cent, to roughly €750,000 in the coming years.

It represents a loss of €217,000 in LPT for the Municipal District each year.

The issue has been raised by Athy Councillors Mark Leigh and Brian Dooley.

50 per cent of LPT in the county will now be divided between MDs, with the other divided based on population.

It follows a 2025 Government directive about redistribution of LPT between MDs, as it was advised that MDs with the least amount of councillors would "suffer the most" according to Cllr Leigh, with the motion being voted through the council in 2025.

LPT is used for various funding in Athy MD, such as for Area Engineers to carry out their work, as well as supporting local clubs, and those in need of funding in the local community.

Speaking on Kildare Today, Cllr Leigh said "no one could've imagined how much it would affect Athy".

He also remarked that Kildare-Newbridge MD are going to "do very well out of this", but that Athy and Naas will be at a disadvantage.

"Despite having probably the lowest population of the five MDs in the county, we have the largest land area and largest road network, I think it's disproportional to cut us by that much, that money would do a lot for the roads in the three years."

He said that local projects will most likely suffer as a result, with the capacity to take on new projects potentially being affected.

"Rather than cutting projects, we'll finish the ones we have, it's taking on new projects where we're going to get caught in the next three years, everything is in danger."

Cllr Brian Dooley has also argued that the model disproportionately disadvantages Athy, despite the socioeconomic challenges and infrastructure demands the MD faces.

The two councillors have reached out to Minister James Browne, and failing a response, the issue would have to then be raised as a Parliamentary Question in the Dáil.

The full interview can be heard below: