Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 854: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of properties that registered for the household charge; if he will give a breakdown of these on a county basis; the number of these properties that are entitled to an exemption and the steps he now proposes to take to collect the outstanding monies due [18529/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 16 April, 2012, a total of 675,252 property declarations have been processed by the household charge bureau. 660,597 registered for payment of the charge and 14,655 residential property owners have registered for a waiver from payment of the charge. In addition, 188,500 postal applications have been received in the household charge bureau and a further 40,000 declarations have been received by local authorities which have yet to be processed. This gives a total number of over 903,000 declarations made.

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 of 1 January, 2012 to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, that person is required to declare that liability and to pay the household charge.

The Act further provides for offences where a person contravenes the statutory requirements. In addition, late payment penalties apply where payment is not made by the due date and household charges and any associated late payment penalties are a charge against the property which will have to be discharged in the event of the sale or transfer of the property concerned.

Section 12 of the Act provides that it is a function of each local authority to collect household charges, late payment fees and late payment interest due to it and to deal with matters associated with such collection. I will be keeping the income being generated from the household charge under constant review and I and local authorities will take any necessary measures, as appropriate, in regard to compliance with the legislation.

The following table sets out the numbers registered for the household charge on a county/city basis. This breakdown shows the number of households that have been registered to date against an estimate of the number of households liable to the household charge. The 228,500 declarations yet to be processed are not included in this table as a county/city breakdown is not as yet available in respect of these. In addition, the number of declarations received where a waiver from payment of the household charge is claimed is not included in these figures.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 855: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 8 March, 2012; if he will forward a response to same. [18534/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 8 March 2012. The information requested has been forwarded to the Deputy.