Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
845 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis of the decision to exclude persons in local authority housing from the liability for the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18421/12]
View answerThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge.
Section 2(2) of the Act provides that certain buildings are not residential property for the purposes of the legislation. Section 2(2)(b), in particular, provides that a building vested in a Minister of the Government, a housing authority (within the meaning of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992) or the Health Service Executive is not a residential property for the purposes of the Act.
847 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that the household charge is being forced upon persons by saying that it will go towards paying local authorities, if he will confirm that if next year and the following years this cost is transferred into a full blown property tax the tax will stay in the county in which it is collected; if he will give an absolute assurance of this and that the money will not go to central Government to pay off bankers' debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18429/12]
View answerThe household charge is a local authority charge, the proceeds of which are being used to fund vital local services in our communities, including planning and development, fire and emergency services, public parks, open spaces and leisure amenities, and maintenance and cleaning of streets and street lighting.
I have established an Inter-Departmental Group on Property Tax to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the full property tax as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the structure and modalities of the full property tax.
