Editorial – Rates will Âcripple families
THEâ€Ë†REALITY of the financial blow that will hit hundreds of thousands of Irish families next year is beginning to become apparent. It looks as though at least €20 per week will be imposed when the new household charge comes into effect. The return of rates â€â€ and that is what this measure is â€â€ will have a devastating effect on people who are already stretched to breaking point, and paying through the nose for services that were once provided by local authorities.[private] Water and refuse services were then paid by rate income, until a cynical vote-catching measure by Fianna Fáil in 1977 abolished rates. Now that chicken has come home to roost, 35 years later. While the Government is making no comment, other than to state that the charge will be introduced as part of the deal with the Troika, the figure of €1,000 a year, almost €20 a week, did not come from someone's imagination. Leaving aside the question of how the rate will be assessed, and there will be plenty of unfairness in that, the mere fact of its imposition will impose an intolerable burden on many. This will not just mean further impoverishment for families in negative equity, it will take millions of euros out of the domestic economy, further depressing trade and industry. And all for what?â€Ë†To pay foreign speculators who could not believe their luck when it was announced that Ireland would guarantee all bank debt. Yes, we know we must pay our way. We have no choice but to balance our national income and expenditure. But to have children go without so that speculators and bankers can wallow in luxury is unthinkable. Where are the taxes on the super-rich? Why do we allow so-called tax exiles to spend so much time here and not pay a cent of income tax? Where is the third rate of income tax for those earning over €100,000 a year? The ordinary people of this country cannot take much more. The new charge could be straw to break the Irish camel's back.[/private]