Local Authority Charges

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2011

Thursday, 8 December 2011

Questions (63)

Patrick Deering

Question:

64 Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) who owns only one property is being charged non principal private residence in view of the fact that the reason for renting is that they lost their job in Dublin, were lucky enough to secure other employment in Kilkenny, moved to Kilkenny and is renting a property there to live in and has rented their own property in Dublin. [39325/11]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The €200 charge on non-principal private residences is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and other non-principal residences. The most important exemption under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 is for a person's sole or main residence. However, any one individual can have only one such residence.

In a situation where a person owns a property in which he or she does not live and his or her sole or main residence is a rented property, there would be a liability for the charge in respect of the property owned by the person, unless it is otherwise exempted under section 4 of the Act.