Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
1112. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the steps being taken to hold to account those who have not paid the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38981/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the Act, 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 or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.
I am informed by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which administers the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils, that between 2 and 13 July, reminder letters in respect of 103,905 non-registered addresses were issued by local authorities nationwide. A second tranche of letters issued between 7 and 20 August in respect of 65,212 households. Local authorities are currently in the process of issuing a further tranche of reminder letters to 52,246 households nationwide. In total, some 221,363 letters have been issued to date to households that have not paid the charge.
The Act places the household charge under the care and management of local authorities and section 15 of the Act empowers local authorities to bring court proceedings for offences under the Act. Application of the legislative provisions in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority.
