A leading Donegal county councillor has told the 30,000 householders about to receive a demand letter from the council about the Household Charge to throw them in the bin.
Independent Cllr. John Campbell, described the letters as another step in the continuing farce, administered by Minister Phil Hogan’s office, to collect a tax rejected by the people.
‘People have nothing to fear, these letters will be sent to all and sundry, its a role of the dice on the council’s part, they still have no notion who is liable or who is not’ said Campbell.
‘My advice is bin the letter and get in contact with your local can’t pay won’t pay representative, the council sent out letters a month ago threatening to take people to court within 10 days yet these people have heard nothing since its laughable.”
He further claimed the council do not know who they are sending these letters to and this will be proven by the large amount of people who will get letters that have either paid the charge or are not liable for it.
He also called on the people of Donegal to maintain their boycott of both the household and septic tank charges.
“It is obvious that the repeated desperate attempts of government to scare the people into paying this unjust tax is failing, it is not working. It has not worked this year and it won’t work next year.
“Even if revenue are tasked to collect it, the boycott is simple: you don’t register, you don’t pay, this is a principled stand against paying bankers and bondholders while ordinary people are crucified.”
Meanwhile Sinn Féin councillor Jack Murray has expressed dismay at Donegal County Council’s decision to ‘waste money on a pointless exercise’.
Cllr Murray has received confirmation that the postage costs alone for the council’s 30’000 household charge letters is €13,500.
He said said “At 45c per letter, Donegal County Council has paid €13,500 in postage to send 30,000 reminder letters to families in Donegal. This figure does not include printing or labour costs.
“This is a complete waste of money on a pointless exercise. The people of this county know that the household charge exists. They don’t need these letters to remind them of that.
“The 50% of householders in Donegal who have not paid the charge have done so for one of two reasons; either they cannot afford to pay it or they are making a principled stand. These letters will have little impact in changing either of those situations.
“I feel confident to predict that the money that these letters bring in will not cover the cost of issuing them.
“The government needs to admit defeat in pursuit of this unfair tax. They now seem intent on wasting money rather than raising it. It seems stubbornness is overriding economic common sense.
“If Phil Hogan is honest about raising revenue then he needs to implement an equitable form of taxation – a system in which the wealthy pay their far share.
“It is clear that the people of Donegal will resist unfair charges which target those who can least afford it.”
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