Sir, – I note that the Revenue Commissioners have perfected the collection of the local property tax by attaching the salaries and wages of defaulters ("Wage deductions kick in for property tax defaulters", July 2nd).
Revenue also has powers of attachment of bank accounts and the ability to send warrants to the sheriff to seize goods of defaulters without the necessity of a judgment.
According to the Irish Penal Reform Trust in 2012, there were 8,304 committals for non-payment of fines, including 242 imprisonments for non-payment of fines imposed for not having a TV licence. The average cost in 2012 of imprisonment for each prisoner was €182 per day.
If the collection of fines were delegated to the Revenue these expensive and ineffective incarcerations would significantly decrease. – Yours, etc,
TIM BRACKEN,
Blarney Street,
Cork.