Cllr wants timetable for exemptions to zoning tax
Councillors have been told the Residential Zoned Land Tax was designed to “address a loophole” and fix issues around land hoarding as a solution to the current housing crisis, but there is still further to go on determining exemptions due to “what is actually farming”.
Director of Services Brendan Jennings made the point at the October monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, where Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley asked that the local authority set out “timetabled arrangements” to allow “active farmers” to have their lands excluded from taxation.
He acknowledged the crux of the tax, which is to bring an end to “land blockage” near urban areas struggling to find new lands on which to expand.
Cllr Feeley said the problem was for small holdings who wish to continue farming.
“Years ago they resided outside of the town and it was never considered part of the town development envelope.”
He wanted an arrangement whereby landowners could “opt out”.
The motion was supported by Fine Gael’s Winston Bennett who agreed there are plenty of farmers who want to still “farm their own way” but at the same time “don’t want to be clobbered by tax”.
There was support too from Fianna Fáil’s Patricia Walsh and Cathaoirleach TP O’Reilly, the latter of whom stated that there had been a lot of land zoned, which he felt amounted to a “box ticking exercise” only.
When Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly noted that zoned land would be worth considerably more than agricultural land, Cllr O’Reilly (FG) responded that farmers couldn’t have “their cake and eat it” on this matter.
Shane P O’Reilly remarked the tax was “another ill-conceived idea” by the Greens, and he is of the opinion that, after the next general election, the RZLT will be “revoked”.
Mr Jennings stated that it is the council’s role to “identify” lands that had the potential to be developed near major urban centres. He was aware of the concerns of some landowners, but said that taxation is a matter for Revenue.
He informed councillors there is an appeals process open to landowners, and concluded by saying the current situation would remain “unless there is a change in legislation that allows us to go back and de-zone” lands.
At present, such a move would require a “variation”, and take a “significant body of work” to deliver plus the approval of elected members.
“There needs to be a change in legislation, we’re not alone in this.”