Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2013
248. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the criteria that were used to compile a list of unfinished housing estates for the purpose of collecting the household charge; if the same list will be used for exemptions from the local property tax to be introduced this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7778/13]
View answerAs part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities 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 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 household 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. It is a matter for the relevant local authority to interpret and apply the relevant provisions.
In the context of Budget 2013, the Government announced the introduction of a local property tax which will replace the annual household charge. It was also decided that a waiver will apply in certain circumstances; a prescribed list of unfinished estates, subject to certain criteria and identified as part of the National Housing Development Survey 2012, in respect of which the property tax for 2013 will be waived in accordance with the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 will be prepared. I anticipate that this list will be published shortly.
