DONEGAL has the highest
level of non-payment of the Household Charge. New
figures show that only 17,408 households had
registered for the charge out of an estimated
65,331.
The Can't Pay, Won't Pay campaign in the county
welcomed the figures.
Campaign steering committee chairperson, Francis
McCafferty said:
“Even by government estimates, a staggering 73% of
households did not pay the charge in Donegal. The
overwhelming majority have refused to be bullied
into paying an unfair tax, despite the fear campaign
that was waged in the run up to the March 31
deadline."
Nationally, some 58% of households have not paid the
charge. Ms McCafferty claimed the Government's
figures on compliance were flawed and that the real
level of non-payment was higher than stated.
"With the numbers of those paying so low, they
cannot disguise the fact any longer that the
Household Charge has been a complete disaster.
"There is now no way the local authorities can
enforce payment and there can be no justification
for the Government in persevering with this hated
tax. They must scrap it immediately. The campaign
will continue until that is achieved.
"In the coming weeks we will be appealing to people
to join the campaign and make it even stronger in
preparation for the fight against the water tax,
property tax and septic tank registration charge.” |
