Councillors shy away from rejecting household charge

Just one local councillor has paid the household charge so far, it's emerged ahead of a public meeting in the town on Thursday as part of the nationwide campaign of opposition to the controversial new tax. However, all other local public representatives (bar one, Sinn Féin's Paul Hogan) spoken to by the Westmeath Independent this week, confirmed they intend stumping up the €100 a year charge as the March 31 deadline for registration looms. Roscommon TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan is among those due to speak at Thursday's public meeting in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel at 8.30pm as part of the nationwide Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes. When contacted by the Westmeath Independent this week on the issue, Mayor Cllr Alan Shaw explained that he has already paid the household charge and the septic tank charge doesn't apply to him. "I don't like paying it but it has to be paid," he commented, saying most people he's spoken have reluctantly said they will pay the fee. "Most people understand it is something that is a new tax which will have to paid going forward and will evolve into a property tax," Cllr Shaw said pointing ultimately to the financial situation, aside from the banks, where we are spending more than we taking in means new revenue is needed to bridge the gap between income and expenditure. Unfortunately, that means new taxes, something he said which was recommended by the taxation institute as the country needs to broaden its tax base. "The sums are there. The figures don't lie. We simply have to bridge the gap and this charge is part of that," the Fine Gael representative said. When asked if he will pay the €100 charge, Sinn Féin's Paul Hogan didn't confirm one way or another whether he will pay the charge or whether it applies to him. However, he said the party has set out their clear opposition to the household charge - it is a regressive flat tax which takes no account of a households ability to pay. "Sinn Féin was to the fore in opposing the introduction of this charge through the Dáil. I am campaigning against the household charge and ensuring government TD's are put under pressure to abolish this charge." Cllr Hogan distanced himself from the national opposition campaign, who are urging the public to refuse to pay the controversial tax. "We are not calling on householders not to pay. At a time when many people are struggling it would be irresponsible to encourage them down a road that could lead them into greater hardship as fines for non-payment rack up. This is a decision that each household will have to make for themselves and we have made clear that we will stand by those who can't or won't pay." He described the septic tanks charge "farcical" calling on the government to stop playing mind games with the registration cost. "The registration fee, regardless of cost, is not the biggest concern for families. The key issue is the standard against which their tanks will be assessed and the cost of upgrading." Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran explained he will pay the charges, albeit he has a major issue with the septic tank charge in particular. "It's alright saying you won't pay it but you'll end up going to court and paying more. I don't like the household charge but I have a huge issue with the septic tank charge," he said, voicing fears about what is going happen with people who have problems with their septic tanks and how much it will cost them to be rectified. "There has to be some kind of assistance for people. You can't just go penalising them," he added. "There are other cases where we (council) created settlement areas, the Baylins, the Castledalys where there is no sewerage and we were promised if we created development they'd get the sewerage and that hasn't happened. Now they facing this bill too." Cllr Moran said he thought when Enda Kenny became Taoiseach, coming from rural Ireland he would bring a bit of sense to the Dáil but instead, he says it's worse it's got claiming that politicians are "brainwashed" by senior civil servants. People can't afford these charges, they have suffered enough, he said. "This is not going to affect people in Dublin as much as people in Westmeath" Also speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Cllr Kieran Molloy (FF) confirmed that he will pay the household charge and the septic charge doesn't apply to him as he is living within the town. "Look it, the way the economy is, and certainly local government is suffering from a lack of funding, if this is returned to local government to do essential works it should be paid," he said, stating he believes most people will stump up the €100 a year charge. "It was a great mistake in 1977 by my own party to do away with the rates and it meant a lack of funding for local authorities," he concluded, adding that this charge could help councils in the future. "I don't intend breaking the law," was the reply from Cllr Aengus O'Rourke (FF) on the matter of the household and septic tank charges. "I have a problem with the household charge, I'll be registering but paying with reluctance," he said. Cllr O'Rourke believes the household charge should have been used to off-set the rates bill to local businesses, instead of being hoovered up by the government to pay people like the bondholders. He said he'll attend the public meeting on Thursday next to hear the views of the campaign but, will not encourage the public to flout the charges. "From 2013 though, it (household charge) will evolve into something a lot more substantial which frightens people," he stated, adding that he has far less of a problem with the septic charge given that the fee has been reduced and the government has promised to look at providing assistance to people who need a system upgrade. "Yes I am paying, it's the law," was the succinct view on the matter expressed by Cllr Mark Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, who added that the septic tank charge also applies to him at present but he is hopeful the sewerage in Glasson will be ready soon. "To say I'm happy about it is not the case but I will be paying," he outlined. His party colleague Cllr Gabrielle McFadden shared the sentiments: "It's not ideal, but we are where we are and we have to get out of it." Cllr McFadden said she'd much rather spend it on a meal in Athlone or in another business in the town but, at the end of the day, the country is in this situation because we didn't take the tough decisions over the last ten years. "At the end of the day we have pay our way." At the time of going to press (Tuesday evening) the Westmeath Independent had yet to receive answers on whether they will pay the charges or not from Labour's Jim Henson and Cllr Sheila Buckley Byrne (Ind).