7.5% reduction in Local Property Tax provided over €3m in discretionary income

SOUTH Dublin County Council’s decision to apply a 7.5 per cent reduction in Local Property Tax provided €3,024,846 in discretionary income to support priority local services and projects.

The additional discretionary income formed an important part of the 2026 Budget, enabling the Council to provide additional front-line staff across key service areas, including homeless services, road maintenance, parks, cleansing and planning enforcement.

In Clondalkin, a detached street worker programme was supported through a total of €100,000 that was provided through this fund.

In Tallaght, €100,000 has been assigned to the Tymon/Limekiln pavilion for upgrade works, as well as a further €100,000 to support an inaugural concert at Tallaght Stadium.

The Jobstown Boxing Club will benefit from €50,000, which will go towards initial funding for a new premises.

For heritage feasibility studies on the Millponds in Clondalkin, St Kevin’s Church in Kilnamanagh and the Dodder Mills, €60,000 has been set aside from the LPT  fund.

To expand the Sports Disability Inclusion Programme, €50,000 will be set aside, and another €50,000 will be assigned to the development of an extension of Dominic’s Community Centre.

Emerging sportsperson bursaries will see €80,000, while an individual arts bursary worth €15,000 will also be set up.

It also supported increased investment in footpath repairs, laneway improvements and cleaning, graffiti removal, solar-powered bins, accessibility works, and safety lighting in parks and the public realm.

Issues affecting mature estates under SDCC’s new tree policy were also addressed through this funding, as it allowed the Council to maintain the enhanced funding previously introduced for tree maintenance.

Enhancement works to the public realm will also benefit from the €3m funding, with money set aside for the installation of age-friendly benches across local electoral areas, new events in Council parks, permeability works at Grangeview and a local traffic study in Palmerstown.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme