Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter.

I have received a number of complaints from constituents who own a number of properties which are mortgaged and rented to tenants. Because of their difficult and stressed financial position they find they are not able to make the non-principal private residence charge payments to their local authority.

There is a legal obligation to pay the charge which is covered by regulation. I ask the Minister of State to refer this aspect of the matter to the Department. Where there are exceptional circumstances and an individual or a combination of individuals find themselves in financial trouble, there should be provision to allow the charge to be paid on a phased basis. As the law stands, there is no provision for this; local authorities have no flexibility or leeway. A simple change to the regulations would be of considerable help.

The individual who raised the matter is not trying to find a way of not paying, but he said he could not pay on the due date. If one does not pay on the due date, interest accumulation kicks in. I am sure the legislation did not envisage penalising individuals who found themselves in stressed financial positions and facing them with that additional burden. Will the Department take another look at the charge and modify it to take account of special circumstances, such as I have outlined.

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