New charges on the way?

Join our campaign

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Tuesday, July 8

John Bosco Youth Club, Davitt Road at 7.45pm

Wednesday July 9

Transport Club (Darts Club), Rutland Avenue at 7.45pm

Wednesday July 16

WASF Hall, Moeran Road, Walkinstown, 8.30pm

Recently Kerry county councillors agreed a €200 annual water charge which they wanted to introduce under cover as an “amenity charge”. The plan was shelved due to fierce local opposition.

But it’s a sign of where councils would like to go.

Several councils have made submissions to the commission on local council funding seeking permission for new charges. Plans afoot include

• a recycling charge;
• increased motor tax;
• an amenity charge (water);
• an environment tax and
• a tax on all cans, bottles and cartons sold in the Dublin area.

This will all be kept quiet until after next year’s local elections. But there is no doubt that the government – having squandered our taxes in the boom – will now be looking to new stealth taxes and cuts in services.

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Greens and what’s left of the PDs will support new charges. Labour will oppose them in the election, and then vote for them on the council as they did with the bin tax.

The Anti Bin-Tax Campaign is now considering the need to broaden out and rebuild as an anti service charges campaign. Come to one of our meetings and get involved.

Contact Cllr Joan Collins at 086 3888 151