Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2012
430 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason persons living in private housing estates who already pay for services such as roads by way of estate management company charges must also pay the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7837/12]
View answerThe EU-IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland commits the Government to the introduction of a property tax for 2012. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for such services. In light of the complex issues involved, a property tax, requiring a comprehensive property valuation system, would take time to introduce and accordingly, to meet the requirements in the EU-IMF Programme, the Government introduced the household charge in 2012. The household charge is an interim measure and proposals for a full property tax will be considered by the Government in due course.
The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. Revenues from the household charge will support the provision of local services. Internationally, local services are administered by local authorities and financed by local service charges. In Ireland, local authorities are responsible for, among other services, public parks; libraries; open spaces and leisure amenities; planning and development; fire and emergency services; maintenance and cleaning of streets and street lighting. These facilities benefit everyone.
431 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the household tax database was not put out to tender in accordance with departmental procedures. [7840/12]
View answerThe Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The householdcharge.ie website is a modification of the website that is being used for the charge on non-principal private residences charge (NPPR). The NPPR website was procured through e-tenders.ie. The LGMA own the intellectual property for the purposes of the NPPR website and this was used in the context of the household charge website.
