Property Tax and Commercial Rates
If elected, I will work to ensure that the vast proceeds of funds collected from the Property Tax are spent on local services and amenities. I will also seek to reduce the property tax by up to 15% at Fingal County Council. This is a fair and necessary objective. Small and Medium Enterprises in the Fingal Area need to be actively supported. The current level of commercial rates on businesses is unsustainable and it is directly hampering growth and local employment. I will advocate for reduced commercial rates if elected to Fingal County Council. It is important that local businesses receive direct and transparent services from the Council for the rates that are paid.
Jobs
There is over 8,200 people on the Live Register signing on in the Dublin 15 Social Welfare Office in Blanchardstown as detailed by the CSO for the month of January 2013. This compares to 8,550 for the same period in 2012. This highlights a stagnant unemployment rate in the Dublin 15 area which reflects the unemployment crisis nationally. Too many young people are being forced to emigrate with little hope of employment in the current economic climate. As a Local Area Representative, I will endeavor to work with the unemployed, local businesses and community groups to promote job creation initiatives