Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On 23 May 2005, Wicklow County Council took the shocking decision to send out letters to the residents of Brook Meadow, Avoca. The letters threatened them with a very large fine which would increase if unpaid and could incur a custodial sentence. Needless to say, this caused great concern among many residents, who, like most citizens, do not have large funds on which to draw should a county council seek funds owed to them by a developer.

Three other estates in Wicklow have been similarly affected: Avondale Court, Emyvale and Aughrim Oaks. Residents were told by the council that the developers are going to force the residents to pay for the developers' sins. It is apparent that residents in the South Dublin County Council area are receiving similar letters to those received by the residents in Wicklow. The local authorities carrying out this practice seem to be the first of many considering the many developers who are absent and have not paid fees. They must not be allowed to put ordinary residents over a barrel in this manner. Many of the latter are in negative equity and are struggling to pay bills and deal with other issues with developers, who even refuse to do essential repairs. It is estimated that €269 million is outstanding in levies from developers across the State. Something must be done to prevent these charges from being imposed on ordinary homeowners.

Equally, however, struggling local authorities that are facing budget cuts and a property tax bill must get this money from the developers who are responsible. They must not be allowed to go for the easy target, homeowners, but get the levies paid by those responsible, the developers.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has stated that it is up to the local authority whether to pursue these charges. In my constituency of Dublin North West there are estates which are potentially liable should the local authority wish to pursue residents rather than builders. The Department should state that this is morally wrong and unacceptable, not pass the buck to individual local authorities which see residents as the only target available. There are residents in unfinished estates and many are in negative equity. They are being asked to pay a price for services which they are not responsible for delivering.

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