Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

As of the end of January, about 4% of households had paid the household charge and we are one third of the way through the payment period. Concerns are being expressed by local authorities that not all the money targeted for collection will materialise. In his reply, the Minister said that "if collected in full, the household charge has the potential to raise €160 million annually". What measures can he take to plug the shortfall for local authorities, if there is one?

As regards exemptions and waivers, what is the process for adding unfinished housing estates to the schedule of estates already published on the website? Elected representatives throughout the country, including myself, have been contacted by people to say that their estates have not been included in the schedule of unfinished estates.

Some concern has been expressed about the household charge form. It has been brought to my attention that it does not appear to be like other normal, official Government forms. There is no harp or departmental name on it. It has been queried as to whether making a cheque or money order payable to "household charge" is a legal entity for the receipt of payments. Is there a technicality concerning that?

With regard to the receipt of payments by local authorities, if a person pays in cash they will receive a receipt, but if they pay by cheque I understand that the local authority merely takes the cheque and forwards it to the central processing unit. If the Minister fails to collect the target of €160 million, how does he intend to compensate local authorities which have gone through their budgeting process on foot of that?

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