Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

First, I wish to join with Deputy Martin in expressing sympathy on the death of Jim Stynes. He was a great sportsman and great ambassador for this country in Australia. I am arranging, through our ambassador in Australia, for the State to be represented at the funeral as I am sure Deputy Martin would expect.

I acknowledge there have been difficulties with the payment of the household charge. I acknowledge there have been difficulties in respect of the communication of the household charge to households. To some extent, this is understandable in a situation in which this is a new charge, as is the method of its payment. The position is the legislation that was introduced and the arrangements put in place by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government provide for a deadline of 31 March, by which time the charge is to be paid. No change has been made in that deadline. I spoke with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about it earlier today and no change is planned to that deadline.

It is possible to make the payment at the post office. I understand that arrangements have been made for the forms and so on to be in place in post offices and that people can make payment at post offices. This is in addition to the arrangement that is in place for paying it online. I acknowledge that not everyone is in a position to do this or to pay it by post.

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