Registrations for the new household charge have finally passed the 100,000 mark, over seven weeks after its introduction on January 1
st.New figures released by the Department of the Environment show that 103,916 homes have now paid the controversial €100 charge.
However, some 93.5% of households haven’t paid yet and the government are still well short of their target of 1.6 million registrations before the March 31st deadline.
Just one in 15 households has registered for the charge to date, although the government are hopeful of further sign-ups now that a leaflet drop explaining the charge has commenced. Hopes are also high that registrations will increase as the deadline of March 31st looms.
The latest data also reveals that 79% of registrations have been made online, with 22% paying via direct debit.
Opposition to the charge has been immense and this morning SIPTU called on the government to suspend the charge, describing it as “unfair and regressive.”
