VOTE FOR A FIVE IN PROPERTY TAX

Labour Councillor George Lawlor said he had voted for the LPT increase ‘because it gives us as councillors and officials the flexibility to invest in Wexford’s future and the extra €600,000 it will raise gives us the ability to raise €10 million to put into projects that will enhance Wexford.

‘We’ve already seen €1 billion invested by the last governments and we need to match that with ambitious projects,’ he said, criticisng those members who voted against the proposed increase.

Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Malcolm Byrne, whose party colleagues voted against the increase, said the decision to vote in favour was a tough one, but the right decision to make.

‘I voted reluctantly in favour on the basis that the money is ring-fenced for a series of projects,’ he said.

‘If it had been going towards the overall funding of the council I wouldn’t have been in favour.’

He said Gorey and North Wexford had much to gain from the ambitious development plan outlined at the meeting.

‘One that was not included was the development of Courtown Harbour but that is part of it. The money is going to built up as collateral to develop these projects that will be for our social and economic development. There may not be a positive reaction, no one likes paying extra taxes, but the investment will result in extra jobs and facilities.’

‘Some of those who voted against the increase will be the first to appear in the photographs when the new facilities are being opened,’ he said.

Wexford Mayor, Fine Gael Cllr Jim Moore, said there was big challenge in it as with any form of increase any form of taxation.

‘There’s always a kick-back or reluctance to pay more, but what we have is a plan for sustainable development for all the four districts and that gives an opportunity for job generation and that’s a very substantial part of it.

‘We’re talking about budgeting in the long term and this is a very ambitious plan to create some certainty and we need to see it run its course... we see it as an opportunity,’ said Cllr Moore.

Asked about how the council could justify a double figure increase in LPT when most of the people living and working in the county have gone without pay rises for at least five years, Cllr Moore said Wexford was one of only three councils which invested in its future by increasing LPT last year and it would see the dividends of this.

‘We can’t afford to miss out when it comes to investment in future jobs. The grave danger is that people do not see or recognise what we are doing and we, as a council, are doing a lot.’