Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

Question 464: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons to date that have registered to pay the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/12]

Phil Hogan (Minister, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government; Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

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 17 February, 2012, a total of 106,593 properties have been registered for payment of the household charge.