Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and People Before Profit have voted against Dublin City Council raising €14.5 million to be spent on street cleaning and local funding through the Local Property Tax.

Dublin, and indeed Ireland as a whole, is in serious need of better-funded public services. The 15% reduction in Local Property Tax voted for by those parties, in practical terms, makes it less likely that the council will deliver them.

Dumping and litter are two issues that people regularly contact their local representatives about. Although bringing waste collection back into public ownership is the key component in tackling this issue, it cannot be denied that more regular street cleaning would help here. A walk around some of the streets and suburbs of our city should make this obvious.

Additionally, working communities regularly and rightfully cry out for more facilities and for greater support in their local areas. This tax cut means the council will hold the purse string even tighter when they’re asked to provide this in future.

Perhaps it is to be expected that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil would vote against public services in favour of a tax break, but it is strange to see this coming from Sinn Féin and People Before Profit, two parties of the left.

While it is understandable that some councillors would have concerns about raising taxes during a cost-of-living crisis, the 15% reduction voted for by councillors will save a mere €14 for the year for those in the lowest Property Value band, while somebody with a house worth €500k will only save €75. Is that worth having less frequent street cleaning and less funding for local areas?

On the other hand, this reduction will save €409 for somebody with a property value of €1.7 million.

Everyday Dubliners need better public services, not tax breaks that only really benefit the rich.