Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 March 2012
185 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if all residential property owned by Government Ministers is exempt from payment of the household charge; the purpose for which Ministers are exempted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17076/12]
View answer186 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the residential property owned by a Minister of the Government is exempt from the household charge [17082/12]
View answer198 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to parliamentary questions of 13 March relating to exemptions and waivers from payment of the household charge, in which he indicated that residential property owned by a Minister of the Government, would be exempt from household charges, if he will clarify if this relates to all residential properties owned by Ministers of the Government; and if he will provide details of the properties owned by Ministers of the Government that will be exempt. [17243/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 186 and 198 together.
Residential property held in a personal capacity by a Minister of the Government is liable for the household charge on the same basis as any other citizen in the State.
The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge.
The household charge is on a self assessment basis and interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts.
