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Dublin Council Passes Budget in 31–30 Vote, Overhauls Social Housing Rents

Officials say the new income-based formula will fund overdue maintenance of ageing council homes.

Overview

  • Councillors approved the €1.7bn budget by a single vote after protests at City Hall, with Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, the Social Democrats and several Independents opposing the rent plan.
  • Rises take effect next year for council tenants, with roughly 10% increases for the lowest incomes and much larger hikes for higher-earning or multi-earner households, in some cases exceeding 50%.
  • Reports differ on the scale, citing up to 40,000 households or 68,000 tenants affected, with some counts including HAP recipients.
  • The overhaul is the first major recalculation in about 30 years and follows an income analysis indicating more than a fifth of council households take home over €1,000 a week.
  • A proposal from People Before Profit to raise commercial rates by almost 15% with a rebate for smaller bills was defeated, leaving the rent changes in place to raise funds for repairs.