O’ Shea Welcomes Increase of Funding for Cork from Local Property Tax Reform

• Additional €6.6m in funding for Cork County Council in 2026

• Additional €4.6m in funding for Cork City Council in 2026

 Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has today welcomed a significant increase in funding for Cork County Council, following reforms to the Local Property Tax (LPT) agreed by Government.

As a result of these reforms, Cork County Council will receive an additional €6.6m annually starting in 2026 providing greater flexibility to invest in vital local services and infrastructure.

Speaking today, Deputy O’Shea said “This is a major win for Cork and a clear example of how Fine Gael is putting money back into communities. With this extra funding each year, our local council will be better equipped to boost local services, improve road infrastructure, respond to the needs of a growing population and so much more. This is direct response to what I am hearing from speaking to constituents on a weekly basis. Whether it’s the condition of our roads, the need for more local housing, rural regeneration, urban renewal, or support for communities, this funding will make a real difference.”

The changes form part of a broader reform of the Local Property Tax system, which includes:

• A revaluation of properties in November 2025.

• Modest increases in LPT for many households, with most remaining in their current bands.

• A requirement that additional retained funding be used in part for urban regeneration and local infrastructure investment.

Deputy O’ Shea added “This reform means more of what is raised locally is used for local funds. This is about making sure this tax benefits our communities. In tandem with reliable revenue streams for local authorities, the Government from today will be publishing performance tables to show how local authorities are delivering new build social housing compared to their targets, to drive best practice and higher performance. Coupled with this, the Government today decided to streamline the design standards and approval process for new build social housing projects to speed up delivery and free up more supply in the private market”.

“Fine Gael is focused on delivery, reform, and positive outcomes for families and communities across Ireland. The new LPT allocations take effect from January 2026. Local authorities must notify the Revenue Commissioners of any rate variation decisions by 31 August 2025” concluded Deputy O’Shea.