Speaking in the Seanad on the Local Property Tax, Senator Aideen Hayden has said that all land adjacent to a domestic property, which is not used for business purposes, should be included in the valuation for property tax.

She said: "At the moment any land beside a house up to one acre is included for value purposes. I would argue that land in excess of this, which is not used for business purposes is contributing to the residential amenity and should be taxed as such.

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"People with only a 'handkerchief' garden will have to pay full value on their entire property, and someone else with for example, several acres on the Hill of Howth will only have to pay on one acre, yet enjoy the added amenities and financial value of a large property.

"I would like the Minister to take this into account, and also make allowances for residents of apartment blocks who already pay large service charges to private management committees, and do not benefit from all the public services that their neighbours on a general residential street do."

(CD)