Some 2,000 make household charge payments at Offaly local authorities

Offaly County Council has taken in an estimated 2,000 household charge payments - or €200,000 - at offices in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry to date according to a council spokesperson. Mary Gaughran, from Offaly County Council's finance section, said the council estimates the charge is due from a total of something in the region of 25,000 households however. Figures for payments made online in the county are not available. Council offices in Birr and Edenderry have joined Offaly County Council headquarters in Tullamore in accepting household charge payments only since the beginning of this week. Today (Friday) is the final day the charge can be paid in offices in Edenderry and Birr. Aras an Chontae on Tullamore's Charleville Road will open tomorrow (Saturday) to accept payments from 9.30am until 4pm however. Speaking to the Offaly Independent yesterday Ms Gaughran said staff will be available to answer queries from payees over the telephone. She encouraged anyone with questions regarding making the payment to call Offaly County Council on 057 9346800. She advised those intending to pay the charge in cash but who had yet to do so to visit council offices in Tullamore, Birr or Edenderry tomorrow (Friday) or Tullamore on Saturday. She suggested that anyone not paying the charge online or in person by cash should at this stage make the payment direct by post to PO Box 12168, Dublin 1 not after the payment deadline tomorrow.