Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise this matter having been contacted, along with my colleague Councillor Nick Killian, by residents in Ratoath, County Meath, who live on an unfinished - though not very problematic - estate that has not yet been taken in charge. The issue they raise is the inherent unfairness of the household charge. A different level of service is provided in different counties. Many people moving to County Meath from County Dublin, including Fingal, are shocked to find there is no parks department in County Meath, which is a major feature of Fingal County Council and of public interaction with the council. There are differences in the level of service provided to different estates based on whether they have or have not been taken in charge. I am aware of an estate in Stamullen where the lights are not working but it is not of a sufficiently low standard for the residents to be exempt from the household charge. They are getting a lower level of service yet they are required to pay the ¤100 charge and, presumably, will have to pay the property tax next year. Within the local authority areas in County Meath, there is a further difference in the level of service, whereby people actually get more services from the local authority if they live in a town council area. While I want to protect and enhance that, the fact remains that people in a county area pay the ¤100 while people in a town area also pay ¤100 for a different level of service.

The Government made a huge mistake when it promoted the household charge as funding local services because people see these discrepancies and say "It is not fair. That person is getting a better service than me although I pay the same ¤100". Many believe they get nothing for their ¤100 and, while that is not entirely correct, there is a ring of truth to it. I met a woman in Ashbourne, County Meath, who owes ¤600 every year to her management company for the upkeep of her estate, which is not a walled-in or gated estate and has a public open space within it. In addition, she has to pay ¤100 to Meath County Council, which she feels is an unjust charge that is being imposed when she is not getting the required level of service.

There are huge inequities with the household charge, particularly with regard to different levels of service. The Government should look at what local authorities are doing and should be doing and adjust the household charge accordingly.