Unfinished Housing Developments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Questions (456)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in south Tipperary was not included on the unfinished housing estates list for household charge purposes despite requests from South Tipperary County Council to have the estate listed as unfinished; and if he will ensure that the list is corrected to include the estate. [6859/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities, including South Tipperary County Council, provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: Category one, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where no serious public safety issues exist; Category two, where a receiver has been appointed; Category three, where a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and Category four, where the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

This local authority categorisation formed the basis for the list of those unfinished developments eligible for a waiver on the annual household charge. Only households in developments in categories three and four are eligible for the waiver from payment of the charge. The list of developments in which households are eligible for the waiver in 2012 is set out under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012.

Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an owner of a residential property on the liability date to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.