Article from the March 2006 issue of the Socialist
newspaper of the Socialist Party, Irish section of the CWI
Abolish management company fees scam
By Joe Higgins TD
THE JANUARY edition of The Socialist highlighted the new trend of so-called management companies being foisted on newly developed housing areas in Dublin suburbs. We pointed out how new homeowners are forced to sign contracts to pay these companies fees for public services such as care of open spaces, public lighting and public liability insurance for public areas in the estates - amounting to an underhand privatisation of services and a new local tax on homeowners.
Since I raised the issue along with Independent T.D. Catherine Murphy in the Dáil last October, sections of the media have reported on the issue and the grave dissatisfaction of many householders forced into paying this new tax for privatised services.
A press conference highlighting this issue on 28 February this year was attended by householders from not only West Dublin but also, Balbriggan, Port Laoise and Counties Meath and Kildare. The Port Laoise representatives reported on a housing estate built about three years ago where the management company fee is E800 a year for each house!
On 3 March, residents of Tyrrelstown were dragged into the District Court by the management companies looking for an order from the judge that the arrears of fees demanded should be paid. Scandalously, the judge in Dolphin House would not allow the residents' legal team make any arguments whatever about the legality of the fees demanded. He insisted that it was an open and shut case if a contract was signed and gave the order that the money was owed.
That is not the end of the matter however. Residents in this situation have the option of appealing to the Circuit Court where there is a better chance that points of law would be heard. Where there are action groups and the possibility of raising a legal defence fund locally to pay their legal costs, this should certainly be seriously considered.
However, courts implement laws favouring the establishment - in this case millionaire developers who control the management companies. The key way therefore for householders and communities inflicted with the management company scam is through mobilising huge political pressure through "people power" on the government and the main political parties that want to be in the next government.
The political parties should be reminded that this will be an important issue for thousands of residents in west Dublin during the next general election. Public meetings, visits to T.D.s and Councillors' clinics and protest action should be organised so they get the message.
I am working with Socialist Party Councillors and branches to help communities organise. Action groups have come into being in west Dublin and are being formed in other areas. Catherine Murphy and I are also committed to jointly hosting a meeting of all individuals and groups around the country who want to unite to fight this latest rip-off.
Bin Tax hike in South Dublin
By Cllr. Mick Murphy
SOUTH DUBLIN County Council has announced a E2 increase in the price of bin tags from the beginning of April. This 33.3% increase vindicates the warnings of the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign, which made it clear that once the charge was in place, it would rise and waivers would be cut.
In the last two years, over 12,000 people (more than half the original number) have lost their waivers. With tags now at E8, they will continue to increase to the typical prices around the country of between E15 and E23.
The Council tries to justify the charge in terms of protecting the environment, but the figures prove otherwise. The amount of waste generated per household has increased over the lifetime of the bin tax. No measures have been taken to reduce waste at source. The money collected from the bin tax (E6 million each year) is not going into recycling. Socialist Party Cllr. Mick Murphy has put down motions on three separate occasions arguing in different ways for the extension of the green bin service by the Council to include glass and plastic and to be collected twice a month. Each time a different lame excuse was given as to why this would not happen. The bin tax was never about improving the environment, it is all about generating extra taxation revenue and laying the basis for the privatisation of public services.
This is just another example of rip-off Ireland, where stealth charges and attacks on public services have become the norm. A recent report commissioned by the government recommended the re-introduction of water charges. This shows the further double-tax plans of the government, which will have to be fought by a campaign of mass non-payment.
A protest has been organised for 13 March at 4.30pm at the Council offices in Tallaght to oppose this hike and the slashing of waivers.