This article is from page 6 of the 2012-09-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
MEMBERS of the Fine Gael party in Clare are to tell the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan that a carrot rather and stick will reap more rewards in the county when it comes to collecting the household charge.
The loss of almost a quarter of a million euro of council funding last month will not be returned to Clare County Council, despite reassurances from the Minister through the two local Fine Gael TDs that all funding would be paid if a certain threshold was met.
On Saturday, Fine Gael councillors and Oireachtais members met and discussed the announcement following Friday’s developments.
It was agreed that there was little incentive left for the collection of the charge if the council and its public services were to be penalised regardless.
In a statement after the meeting the party in Clare said’
“There is a € 1.5 million shortfall in the household charge collection in Clare from 15,000 households who have failed to pay the legally due charge brought about by the collapse of the economy.”
It said the issue of the refunding of the € 240,000 from the third quarter payments from Government was discussed on the agenda.
“There is a Clare Fine Gael proposal being put by the Oireachtas members to the Minister for his urgent consideration to enable the refund that € 240,000.
“The proposal seeks the refund if a significant further improvement of payment rate is achieved in Clare over the next number of weeks.
“Essential council services need to be funded and unless we all contribute and pay we will fail to improve our collection rate,” it stated.
As the Fine Gael members prepare to meet with the Minister for Environment Phil Hogan on Saturday next at a party fundraising dinner, many admit privately that he has lost credibility with them.
This means any reassurances they might receive will be coated in more salt than the € 100 a plate dinner.