THOUSANDS OF GALWAY HOMEOWNERS TO GET FINAL REMINDERS ON HOUSEHOLD CHARGE

Date Published: 19-Sep-2012

Thousands of landlords and second home owners across Galway who haven't paid the household charge will receive final demand letters in the next fortnight.

In a statement, Galway County Council confirmed it has legislative power to bring legal proceedings for an offence of no-payment of the levy.

38,447 of householders across the County have already paid the household charge netting 3 point 8 million euro for the county council.

In addition, over 2,670 householders have responded to the request made in July for those who had not paid to do so, generating an additional income of over 289 thousand euro.

The County Council has now issued a statement appealing to householders who have not paid the charge to do so.

It states that the impact of a potential 3.1 million euro reduction in its local Government funding includes the suspension of housing to older people and people with disabilities as well as withholding community and enterprise grants.

It also states that third and final reminder letters will be sent out this week, and the council has legislative power to bring legal proceedings for non-payment.

38 percent of householders in the county have not yet paid the charge , while in the city 27 percent of homeowners have not paid.

The first round of warning letters targetting people who only own their own home and haven't paid the 100 euro charge are expected to be sent out by the end of this month.