A new €100 household charge is to be introduced by the Government from 1 January next year. Although at press time the Government had not made an official confirmation, Metro Éireann understands that a decision on the matter had already been made by the cabinet at its weekly meeting last Tuesday,
The new charge will temporary cover both property and water charges pending the introduction of a full property tax and separate water charge in 2014. About €160m will be raised from around 1.6 million households who are to pay the new charge, which is one of the conditions for the EU/IMF bailout. It is expected that the proceeds will be used to fund local services.
But this is no good news for millions of people whose take-home pay has already been hit by new taxes and levies. Neither is it a welcome development for people whose savings have been affected by the ongoing credit crisis.
We note that nearly 250,000 households, especially those who are receiving mortgage supplements and those living in substandard accommodations, will not be asked to pay the new charges. Nevertheless, the new regime will surely have a devastating effect country-wide.
We also do not agree that such charges should be flat across the board for both poor and wealthy. We would call on the Government to introduce a system whereby the wealthy pay a fairer amount proportionate to their income.
Unless the Government wants social unrest akin to that which has torn Greece apart,it should look elsewhere for its fundraising. The people have had enough.
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