This week’s meeting of Mayo County Council heard how a number of independent Councillors across the country are tabling motions, calling on Government to scrap the Universal Social Charge (USC).
Independent Councillor Richard Finn made the point, after tabling such a motion himself, urging Government to immediately abolish the USC.
USC was introduced in 2011 by then Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan in an attempt to stable the nation’s public finances after the economic crash.
It was introduced as a temporary measure, but today is still in effect for all earnings above 13,000 euro per year.
During Monday’s meeting of the local authority, Councillor Finn said time has come for the abolition of the charge, while also highlighting the fact that USC is payable on pension contributions.
It was proposed that the council write to the Minister for Finance, Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, urging him to abolish the USC “immediately”.
The motion was seconded by Cllr John Caufield and agreed by all members present in the chamber.
So far, motions such as this one have been tabled in tabled in Longford, Offaly, Leitrim, Tipperary, Louth and Meath.
