LONG QUEUES IN MOTOR TAX OFFICS A HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUE

Having witnessed  the numbers queuing at Kildare’s  Motor Tax Office at Aras Cill Dara Naas,  Cllr Catherine Murphy said she believes  it is valid to have concerns about health and safety.   Not only is it a terrible waste of time for citizens of this County to have to queue for hours to pay their motor tax,  the prospect of one or more members of the public fainting is very real.   

As family budgets get tighter bills are often left to the last minute,  we need to recognise this and deal with it more effectively.   Cllr Murphy expressed her concerns about the extent of the queue  to Kildare’s County Finance Officer who  told her it is a problem at each month end.      Admitting that she always pays her own motor tax online that it was only when she witnessed the queue that she understood the extent of the problem.   

Not willing to let the matter go she has made a number of suggestions as to how the problem might be resolved.   

• Those prepared to pay early in the month by cheque or credit card should not have their accounts debited until the motor tax falls due,  this would facilitate early payments and respect the very real juggling act many individuals must perform with their family finances.
•  Kildare has a well developed Library System,  many of those libraries have a bank of computers with  internet access,  members of the public should be reminded these are available. 
• A number of computers are provided in close proximity to the Motor Tax office in  the Council HQ,  these   may be used by members of the public  to pay online,  however what is needed is for a staff member  to assist those which limited computer literacy who would be willing to pay by this method.   
   

County and City Council’s act as Motor Tax collection agents for Government,   in turn they are allowed  retain an administrative fee for doing this,   that would be sufficient if there was an even pattern of collection throughout the month.   If this is a problem every month in Kildare the pattern may be repeated throughout the Country,    we need to consider solutions rather than accepting it as a fait accompli Cllr Murphy concluded.

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Posted by catherinemurphy on May 10, 2009. Filed under Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.