It’s time for Hogan to admit his mistakes

WITH just three days to go until the deadline for payment, it is apparent that the household charge cannot proceed on schedule. Even if there is a late surge of payments predicted by the Government, the figures suggest that the level of compliance will still be lamentably low.

From the start, the campaign has been a master class in mismanagement. Poorly thought-out to begin with, it was then executed in the clumsiest manner possible by the Environment Minister.

With the arrogance that is becoming a trait of Enda Kenny’s administration, there was little in way of communication. Instead, Phil Hogan tried to bully householders with a series of threats.

When a l eafleting campaign was launched, it was shambolic. Vast swathes of the population were unaware of the February 29 deadline to register for direct debit payment because they didn’t receive the leaflets on time – if at all.

Meanwhile, mixed messages were being sent out by ministers up to last weekend on whether homeowners could pay the €100 fee at the post office. Not surprisingly, the end result has been a confused and disillusioned public.

Worse still, the scare tactics have left many elderly people – many of whom have no access to the internet – fearful that they could end up losing their homes.

Against that backdrop, it is time to say that enough is enough. It is also time for the Government to admit that this exercise has been an unmitigated disaster and then produce a sensible alternative.

Likewise, an increasingly isolated Minister Hogan ought to be man enough to admit that he got it wrong. Though time is running out, he must move now to extend the deadline – or at least announce a moratorium on the late payment surcharge for householders who agree to pay out within a revised timeframe.

Common sense demands it. And so does fair play.