Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm or deny the recent media reports which state that the household charge will be taken directly from people's pay packets or welfare payments; if so, when is he proposing to amend the Fines Act of 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16825/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I have no proposals to collect the household charge from homeowners by deduction from earnings. The Question may be referring to the proposals that my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality is developing, in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, to allow for collection of unpaid court fines by attachment of earnings or deduction from social welfare benefits. These proposals are intended to improve the collection of unpaid fines and to reduce the number of people committed to prison for non-payment of fines, and they are being progressed by the Minister for Justice and Equality.