DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL will tomorrow evening debate an emergency motion calling for the repeal of the Household Charge and the introduction of an emergency government budget for local councils.
The motion is being tabled by Sinn Féin, which this afternoon accused environment minister Phil Hogan of “monumental hypocrisy” in his stance on the €100 charge, while also reportedly refusing to pay a bill for service charges on a holiday home.
While the motion will not be binding upon the council or government, the move would see Dublin City Council follow Waterford City Council in adopting a formal policy of opposing the charge, which is being introduced to proceed property taxes and water charges in the coming years.
SF councillor Micheál Mac Donncha said Hogan and his cabinet colleague had not only failed to convince the public to pay the “unjust” €100 charge, but had also cut council budgets forcing them to become reliant on income from the charge.
This move, Mac Donncha said, would “threaten to plunge local administration into crisis this year, with the loss of vital services and jobs.”
The Donaghmede councillor also accused Hogan of hypocrisy by insisting that the public pay the charge to ensure the viability of local governments, while reportedly refusing to pay over €4,000 in management fees on one of his own properties.
Today’s Sunday Independent reported that Hogan is involved in a dispute with the management company in an apartment complex in the Algarve, over outstanding fees of €4,320. Hogan is quoted as saying he was “unhappy with the service”.
Earlier this afternoon, health minister James Reilly said comparing the household charge with a private management fee was like “trying to compare apples and oranges”.
Figures produced overnight indicated that an estimated 805,569 properties had registered for the household charge, including 12,677 properties which had registered for a waiver.
Edit: This piece has been amended to remove an incorrect reference to Dublin being the first local authority to formally oppose the charge.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say