Costello Opposes the Bin Charges
10 February 2002
by Cllr Joe Costello
Dublin City Council has now sent out threatening letters to households in the Cabra Area demanding that they pay the charges for the collection of household waste. These letters are causing fear and anxiety, particularly, amongst the elderly. People are worried that if they don’t pay within 10 days they will be hauled before the courts. The action by Dublin City Council is totally over the top. It is wrong and a further waste of taxpayers’ money to threaten people with the law for €120 when far larger sums of money go uncontested. The reason for these heavy handed tactics is clearly because householders are so furious with this new tax that they are refusing to pay the charges. At the last City Council meeting on 4th February, I asked the City Manager about the number of people who had paid the charges: COUNCILLOR JOE COSTELLO To ask the City Manager to State the number of people who: 1. Are obliged to pay waste management charges in Dublin Central 2. The number of people who have paid the full charge in 2001 3. The number of people who have paid the full charge in 2002 CITY MANAGER’S REPLY 1. 10,718 bills were issued to households in Dublin Central in respect of the Environmental Waste Charge for 2001. 2. 1,498 households have paid the charge in full. 95 households have paid part of the charge and a further 1,669 households were granted a full waiver. 3. Bills will issue shortly in respect of 2002 84% of households who were not granted waivers have not paid! That is a disastrous collection record. I am totally opposed to these new waste charges or bin charges. They are a form of Double Taxation. The Government is conning the people by saying that it is reducing the tax burden while, in reality, it is introducing an entirely new tax on all householders irrespective of family size. The Labour Party has a comprehensive National Waste Management Plan that encourages and rewards recycling, reduction, re-use and composting and promotes an awareness of, and respect for, the environment. Our Waste Management Strategy rewards, not penalises, the participating householder. The Labour Party in Government abolished water charges in 1996. If in Government after the next election, we will abolish the present unfair and discriminatory bin charges. Let’s fight these unjust charges together!