CAMPAIGNERS claim new figures released by Environment Minister Phil Hogan show they are winning their fight against the Household Charge.
The figures showed that as of the end of April 41,212 people had registered and paid for the tax.
This was an increase of almost 5,000 from the end of November when the figure stood at 36,141.
“The figures clearly show we are winning the fight,” said spokesman Joe Murphy.
Can’t Pay Won’t Pay today also ridiculed the claim from Donegal County Council that there had been a ‘surge’ in payments of the Household Charge in recent weeks, pointing out that the figures showed that the boycott of the charges remained strong, particularly in Donegal.
“It is absolute nonsense for Donegal county Council to claim that there has been a surge in the number of payments.” said spokesperson Francis McCafferty.”Since the end of March only 991 homeowners, fewer than 250 a week, registered for the Household Charge despite the relentless media and bullying campaign mounted by the authorities. Tens of thousands continue to take a principled and courageous stand against this unfair tax despite all that has been thrown at them. The low level of payment is proof that the boycott campaign remains solid.”
“The Council continue to play with numbers to make the compliance rate seem higher. With a total of 83,918 liable properties in the county, there is still a mojority, more than 42,700, who have not paid. Donegal County Council has even refused to answer it’s own elected members who have asked why they are using the wrong figures.
“We must continue to defy them and maintain the boycott of the Household Charge and the Property Tax. This weeks figures show that if we maintain the boycott at the present levels, we can defeat these unfair taxes.”
The national league table is below:
County/City Council |
Properties Registered
30/11/2012 |
Properties Registered
31/12/2012 |
Properties Registered
31/1/2013 |
Properties Registered
28/2/2013 |
Properties Registered
31/3/2013 |
Properties Registered
26/4/2013 |
Carlow |
12,094
|
12,431
|
12,876
|
13,110
|
13,267
|
13,553
|
Cavan |
17,217
|
17,483
|
17,891
|
18,147
|
18,338
|
18,631
|
Clare |
33,026
|
33,570
|
34,200
|
34,915
|
35,461
|
36,066
|
Cork City |
28,126
|
28,452
|
28,751
|
29,001
|
29,392
|
30,047
|
Cork County |
93,154
|
95,653
|
97,914
|
99,224
|
100,852
|
102,878
|
Donegal |
36,141
|
37,292
|
38,429
|
39,652
|
40,221
|
41,212
|
Dublin City |
138,361
|
139,856
|
141,425
|
142,126
|
143,744
|
146,184
|
Dún Laoghaire -Rathdown |
63,380
|
63,842
|
64,421
|
64,674
|
65,082
|
65,712
|
Fingal |
62,075
|
63,068
|
64,115
|
64,673
|
65,720
|
67,071
|
Galway City |
20,167
|
21,024
|
21,279
|
21,451
|
21,655
|
21,941
|
Galway County |
41,731
|
41,990
|
43,592
|
44,695
|
45,264
|
46,238
|
Kerry |
43,445
|
43,909
|
44,502
|
45,025
|
45,422
|
46,191
|
Kildare |
45,833
|
46,612
|
47,522
|
47,979
|
48,679
|
49,728
|
Kilkenny |
21,399
|
21,927
|
22,574
|
22,830
|
23,079
|
23,444
|
Laois |
16,433
|
16,670
|
17,135
|
17,415
|
17,624
|
17,919
|
Leitrim |
9,168
|
9,258
|
9,484
|
9,618
|
9,773
|
9,963
|
Limerick City |
14,134
|
14,293
|
14,423
|
14,580
|
14,858
|
15,150
|
Limerick County |
31,743
|
32,180
|
32,874
|
33,235
|
33,716
|
34,350
|
Longford |
8,777
|
9,066
|
9,344
|
9,574
|
9,712
|
9,917
|
Louth |
25,259
|
25,776
|
26,419
|
26,743
|
27,091
|
27,546
|
Mayo |
38,749
|
39,391
|
40,837
|
41,535
|
41,909
|
42,356
|
Meath |
38,264
|
39,239
|
40,044
|
40,520
|
41,074
|
41,873
|
Monaghan |
13,880
|
14,023
|
14,397
|
14,519
|
14,710
|
14,854
|
North Tipperary |
18,075
|
18,293
|
18,627
|
18,836
|
19,128
|
19,359
|
Offaly |
15,173
|
15,736
|
16,058
|
16,426
|
16,680
|
17,059
|
Roscommon |
16,131
|
16,593
|
17,530
|
18,003
|
18,228
|
18,566
|
Sligo |
17,825
|
18,311
|
18,988
|
19,274
|
19,501
|
19,855
|
South Dublin |
52,369
|
53,227
|
54,000
|
54,424
|
55,395
|
56,809
|
South Tipperary |
20,729
|
21,027
|
21,467
|
21,699
|
21,951
|
22,374
|
Waterford City |
10,668
|
10,774
|
10,942
|
11,037
|
11,163
|
11,400
|
Waterford County |
16,467
|
16,677
|
16,984
|
17,204
|
17,446
|
17,784
|
Westmeath |
20,420
|
20,670
|
21,011
|
21,215
|
21,433
|
21,909
|
Wexford |
36,698
|
37,168
|
38,079
|
38,736
|
39,233
|
39,891
|
Wicklow |
32,049
|
32,357
|
32,834
|
33,161
|
33,524
|
34,029
|