The government’s being warned the Environment Minister’s decision to retain a portion of local government funding means there’s no incentive for people to pay the household charge.
Last week Phil Hogan announced that if councils reached a 65 percent compliance rate of payment of the tax then funding for remainder of the year would be restored- but not monies cut from July to September.
Clare County Council will now have to relook at its budget for 2012, having already allocated all the funds expected after receiving pledges from the county’s two Fine Gael TDs that they would be released once the county’s compliance rate improved.
Fine Gael Councillors held a meeting with both Oireachtas members at the weekend will be raising the matter with Minister Hogan next weekend.
Clr Joe Arkins says the current situation won’t do anything to encourage people to pay household charge to the detriment of local services
