Kilkenny TD welcomes move to exempt farm land from residential zoned land tax

Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan has said Fine Gael has committed to exempt working farmers from Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT).

The move follows a motion on the issue being brought by Deputy Michael Ring to a recent meeting of Fine Gael’s parliamentary party.

“The motion called on the Government to exempt active farmland from the Residential Zoned Land Tax as it is causing great aggravation and upset in particular to farming families who are genuine farming families and do not want to sell their land," said Deputy Phelan. "It was formally adopted by Fine Gael’s ministers, TDs, senators and MEPs.”

Deputy Phelan said it was a good development for all farmers and added that it is important to ensure that hard-working farmers and their families are not penalised by a tax which was aimed at land hoarders when the construction of more homes is required.

RZLT was introduced as part of Finance Bill 2021 to activate land for development to increase housing supply.