Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

The people who have not paid the household charge to date can be placed in one of two categories: those who have a principled objection and those with a clear inability to pay. The campaign to date lacked information. There were insufficient payment methods and there has been a series of incoherent messages from the Government about payment through An Post.

Will the Minister make provision for those with a clear inability to pay? There are genuine people who see these extra charges mounting up. It is acknowledged that the charge is regressive and the nature of the flat rate means there are unemployed people and old age pensioners with a genuine inability to pay. Will the Minister consider at some stage making provision for these people? There was a proposal to extend the payment deadline to September to avoid putting thousands of people outside the law. The Minister should consider that.

There are many unfinished housing estates that are not categorised as qualifying for the waiver. What process exists for residents' associations to contact the Department or local authority? There is no visible process. What is the Minister's strategy for dealing with those household that have not paid? Just about 50% have paid.

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