GALWAY County Couneil bas been ordered to clamp down on those who own second homes across the county and enforce a €200 property tax introduced by the government in the 2009 budget.

Last October, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan introduced the levy for those who own second homes or holiday homes and County Manager, Martina Moloney has confirmed staff from the county council will now be required to impiement that.

Independent Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig asked if information had been gathered on how much money the council could gather from the levy and whether there had been any talk of the levy actualiy been increased to €600.

Ms Moloney said the ievy still stood at €200 and she said the information gathered by council officials at this stage suggested there was €2.4million to be potentially collected in the County Galway region.

Much to the disappointment of councillors however, she revealed this lump sum would have to be forwarded on to central government and could not be held by the council for works in thecounty.

"That money has to be coliected by the county council, acting as an agent for the state and then it has to be sent back to central government," she said.

Ms Moloney said a number of administration staff in the council were now working to access the information that was available from various agencies on who owned any second properties in the county.

Labour Councilior Coim Keaveney asked why in a time when the council was discussing the possibility of job cuts should it make use of staff to go seeking ont the details and tracking down ail those people in the county who own second homes or holiday homes. "Where are we going to get the resources or the people to go out and hunt down the addresses of several thousand people and why should we do that?" he asked.

In response Ms Moloney said the property tax and the onus on county councils to colleet the money would soon be enshrined in legislation, at which point county officiais would have no choice but to follow suit.

BY REGINA HENNELLY Cúradh Chonnachtach 30/1/2009