Household Charge

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2012

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Ceisteanna (168)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

169 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 476 of 1 May 2012, if he will clarify the question of whether the household charge is due on apartments on Dublin Docklands Development Authority property where as part of the management fee a specific amount for provision of local services is collected and paid to the local authority; if the correctness of household charge can be verified here; if such cases were looked at in the preparation of the legislation; if the reasoning on DDDA lands was looked at; if same can be examined now; and if such point was not considered as part of the legislation, if same can now be done or if through Dublin City Council an appropriate reduction can be given through the DDDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25743/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

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 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. There is no exemption or waiver in the legislation, or proposed, in respect of persons who are paying management fees.