Fingal owed millions in levies from developers

FINGAL County Council has been criticised for pursuing people for unpaid household charges when it’s owed

?¬129 million from developers.

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan recently revealed how local authorities across the country are owed more than

?¬395 million in development levies.

The highest amount due is to Fingal County Council, while Dublin City Council is owed over

?¬33.5 million.

Fingal County Council recently issued over 23,000 reminder letters of unpaid household charges, which Cllr Matt Waine (SP) described as a

“disgraceful waste of money

?.

“The council is spending thousands on reminder letters for the e100 household tax from ordinary residents when Fingal is owed

?¬129 million by developers,

? he declared.

“This is the highest figure for any council in the State and this money could transform local services.

“The reminder letters are aimed at frightening people to end the mass boycott of the household tax.

?

Cllr Ruth Coppinger (SP), from the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes group, has received a reminder letter to pay the charge. But she has called on fellow boycotters

“not to panic

?.

“We have to take a stand,

? she stated.

“The Government plans a property tax next year of 0.25 or 0.5 per cent of house value – that would mean

?¬400 to

?¬1,000 on an average home.

“This is our best chance of defeating austerity, which is clearly not working but is damaging the economy.

?

A spokeswoman for Fingal County Council confirmed that it issued just over 23,000 reminders of unpaid household charges in the most recent postal batch, and it estimates that there are 30,000 households in Fingal that have yet to pay.

“So far over 58,400 have registered and paid and a further 2,000 have registered for a waiver,

? she told Northside People.

“The percentage compliance in Fingal is 67 per cent.

“Once the council’s databases are updated following responses and payments from the initial reminder, a further reminder will be issued to those who have outstanding accounts.

?

The spokeswoman said legal proceedings would

“ultimately

? be issued in respect of outstanding account holders.

“The reminder letters inform property owners that outstanding arrears, including late payment fees and interest, is

?¬127 per property and this amount will continue to increase each month per property until the charge is paid,

? she added.