THE GOVERNMENT has ruled out any last-minute softening of its stance on the household charge to allow homeowners more time to pay without being penalised.

The issue was discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, at which it was agreed there would be no change to the Government’s stance that the €100 charge must be paid on time. Since the deadline last weekend, penalties of 1 per cent a month apply.

As of last night, an estimated 876,000 properties had registered for the charge, according to figures provided by the Department of Environment.

About half of households in Mayo have paid the household charge.

However, Mayo FF TD Dara Calleary has hit out at Government Ministers who – he claims – are trying to shift blame onto local authority workers for the mess created over the household charge.

Deputy Calleary says this fiasco is not the fault of council workers in Mayo or elsewhere……