Charges must not become easy way out

THE Irish Concrete Federation (ICF), which represents the quarry and concrete industries, has in recent weeks taken out full page advertisements in newspapers around the country to highlight the impact of the imposition of local development charges and levies.

The industry contends these charges will lead to price hikes of up to 20%.

It says the increase in costs will be passed on to consumers, which will lead to spiralling inflation, and drive the cost of houses further out of the range of first-time buyers.

Local government must not be allowed to take the cost of its own inefficient and wasteful practices from any business or anybody from which it can extract extra money.

The charges must be fair and equitable and they must reflect the service provided by the council.

This is not something that should apply only to the construction industry but to all businesses and private consumers.

Local government should adopt some imaginative cost-saving measures, especially in instances of its own gross inefficiency.

Raising charges may be the easy way for a council to collect extra funds, but it is a destructive influence, damaging productivity and leading to lower employment.

Taxpayers will be compelled to fork out more money for an unsatisfactory service. In the end everybody loses.