€100 charge is unfair but must be paid: mayor

The Lord Mayor of Cork has urged people to pay the household charge and to be aware of taking advice from certain figures involved in the anti-tax campaign.

“Be careful who you follow,” Cllr Terry Shannon (FF) said during a lengthy debate on the issue at this week’s city council meeting.

He described the €100 charge as “unfair” but said it must be paid.

“This tax is unfair but it is now the law of the land. My advice is to pay the tax,” he said.

He warned members of the public to be wary of the advice from some involved in the anti-household tax campaign, who have urged people not to pay it.

“People are being led in a certain direction and some public representatives are urging people not to pay it,” he said.

“This tax will be collected. Have no doubt about it. But when people are being fined for not paying, some of the people fronting this campaign will be nowhere to be seen.”

Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry, whose motion that the city council oppose the introduction of the tax was defeated, is a leading member of the anti-household charge campaign.

He said the 800-strong crowd which marched through Cork on Saturday is proof that the vast majority of ordinary people oppose the charge.

Cork City Council is planning a massive publicity blitz over the coming weeks to encourage people to pay, including:

* The posting of details on the council’s website, corkcity.ie;

* The placing of posters on public buildings;

* A message on the hold facility on the city council’s phone system will advise people to pay;

* The placing of messages at the bottom of all council emails encouraging people to pay;

* The placing of reminders on screensavers on all public computers in libraries and other public buildings;

* The placing of leaflets detailing the household charge on the counters of public buildings;

* Advertisements taken out in various media outlets will advise people to pay the €100 charge.

To date, about €12m has been received from 133,365 households — or just 8% of those liable for the charge.

The figures are in line with what happened three years ago when the Non-Principal Private Residence charge was introduced.

The Government expects a surge in the number of people registering to pay the charge, as the date from which penalties will apply nears.

Way to pay

Householders have until Mar 31 to pay the €100 household charge, after which financial penalties will apply on an escalating basis each month.

People who wish to pay four €25 installments by direct debit must register before midnight tonight.

You can use your credit or debit card to pay online.

People who wish to pay by cheque, postal order or bank draft can do so at their local authority offices, or by posting forms to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1.

* householdcharge.ie