Dublin City Council has been named Local Authority of the Year at the Excellence in Local Government Awards.

The event was attended by over 520 local authorities officials and chamber representatives and held in association with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Environment Minister John Gormley said: "The awards aim to acknowledge and encourage innovation and best practice among Ireland's local authorities and I am very pleased to be associated with them."

Congratulating Dublin City Council, David Pierce, Chambers Ireland President said: "Dublin City Council was recognised for its consistent efforts to enhance both the quality of life and liveability agenda of Dublin's residents while also consistently working in partnership with business as a stakeholder."

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Addressing the issue of the recently introduced €200 levy on second properties, Mr Pierce said: "As the main partner of local government around the country the Chamber network greatly values the work that Local Government undertakes on our behalf. We have also long recognised the need for new revenues for local authorities to be derived from non-business sources."

"Chambers Ireland has consistently called for this levy. However, we are concerned that whilst the tax is to be collected by local authorities, the income raised will be distributed centrally via the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

"We fear that Local Authorities will have no real incentive to collect this tax but instead will see it as yet another administrative burden.

"Income raised from this new system should stay where the tax is gathered. Any disparities that arise should be levelled out via the Local Authority Fund," Mr Pierce added.

(PR/JM)