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. The Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, is administering the household charge system on a shared service-agency basis for all county and city councils. I understand, from data provided by the LGMA, that as of 7 March 2012, a total of 200,101 properties have been registered for payment of the household charge. This equates to income of €20 million.
It is estimated that 1.6 million residential properties are liable to the household charge. If collected in full, the charge has the potential to raise €160 million annually. As an incentive to pay the self-assessment charge, late payment fees and late payment interest apply and amounts due and unpaid remain as a charge against the property concerned. Such amounts will have to be discharged in the event of the sale or transfer of the property concerned. I will keep the income being generated from the household charge under constant review and local authorities and I will take any necessary measures, as appropriate, in regard to compliance with the legislation.