Dear News Four
I would like to wish Mrs J Lynch and Josie Campbell (a contributor to your paper from Melbourne Australia) a very Happy Birthday.

Josie left Coastguard St, Raytown in the early 50s. I was in the Merchant Navy and in 1957 I met Josie and her husband in her shop that she ran in Swan St Melbourne. My sister Nellie was married to Josie’s brother Mike and we lived a few doors from Josie on the Pigeon House Road.

Her mother’s name was Laura and we all called her Auntie Lena. She had two sisters Mary and Patsy as well as Con and another brother. Her father John was a hard working man and I enclose a photo of him with my father John.

Regards
Patrick Donnelly
Rathfarnam
Dublin 14

Property tax not right approach, says Andrews
Deputy Chris Andrews T.D. said on June 23rd that any proposed property tax would not be the right approach to raise revenue, particularly in light of how many home owners are already struggling with negative equality.
Deputy Andrews, the Fianna Fáil representative for Dublin South East, was speaking following comments by An Taoiseach that no decision has yet been made in relation to such a tax.

Speaking last week, Deputy Andrews said, “I know that the Taoiseach has stated that no decision on this matter has been made, which I welcome. Given the current difficulties experienced by people in relation to mortgages, I would be strongly opposed to the implementation of any such tax. Property values have fallen by an average of 50% and people are struggling to pay for their homes. I believe that a tax on the family home is not the right approach to take.”

“In 1983 the Fine Gael/ Labour coalition introduced a residential property tax (RPT). This tax (set at a rate of 1Ω% of value) was designed to generate revenue from valuable domestic properties occupied by those on high incomes. It was, in my opinion a grossly unfair system, which penalised people who lived in certain addresses, irrespective of their own personal circumstances. The value of property was taken into consideration, while other assets such as cars, second homes etc. were not, hence some very wealthy people paid little or no tax on their property.”

“I do agree that the process of financing local government is urgently in need of reform. However, I believe that domestic rates and taxes should corroborate with individual usage, and that reform of local government procurement processes and service delivery should be implemented as a first step. People are doing everything they can to keep their heads above water and hold onto their homes and we must assist them in this.
By Ethel Horan