Sir, – I come from a family of seven children and was reared in a rural area. Three of my siblings have built houses near our family home and two of us have purchased houses in estates – one in South Dublin and one in Co Kerry.
In relation to the household tax I have two points to make: 1. Those who built houses in rural areas (particularly in the last five to 10 years) should be exempt from the charge for a period as they have already paid substantial sums to the local county council. That charge varies from county to county, and increases year on year. 2. My own apartment is in South Dublin and despite the estate being obviously unfinished (building site entrance at the front, building site at the back) it is not exempt from the charge. This wouldn’t frustrate me as much if various friends and acquaintances had not informed me that their estates are exempt despite being in a far more finished state than mine.
Their properties are in different county council areas. I have no idea why there are different standards for unfinished estates in different areas but there it is.
Having endured without objection my pay being cut to 2006 levels while paying a 2008 mortgage, I find the imposition of this kind of flat tax particularly frustrating. I don’t object to the imposition of rates to pay for local amenities but please, elected government officials, let’s make it equitable. We’re a small country and don’t need all these county councils making different decisions.
In case anyone is curious, my two other siblings have emigrated. – Yours, etc,
SÍLE MURRAY,
Carrickmines Green,
Glenamuck Road, Dublin 18.
A chara, – We have been informed on many occasions that the household charge is merely a stop gap measure until some other form of more equitable tax can be introduced next year. Why then does it state on www.householdcharge.iethat "Telephone numbers are collected from you if you voluntarily submit them to use for annual reminders"? What is it intended to remind us about next year? Paying the once-off household charge again? – Is mise,
DARRAGH HIGGINS,
Castle Avenue,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – The Department of the Environment and its Minister must be contenders for the all-time prize for incompetence. After three months of deathly silence and lack of information I finally received (March 30th), a communication on the charge. This was entitled a final reminder to pay by the next day, March 31st. Incidentally, it was delivered to my office, which is clearly not residential property and a building not subject to the charge. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – May I suggest to the Minister that when the revenues from the household charge are being distributed, that the levels of compliance in individual local authorities be taken into account.
I don’t mind sharing my taxes with those who can’t pay; but I object to funding those areas where people refuse to pay. – Yours, etc,