Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 8 together.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. 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 to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.

The Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, administers 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 22 June 2012, a total of 967,816 properties had been registered for the household charge. This represents 60% of the total number of households liable. A total of 17,607 declarations have been received where a waiver from payment of the household charge has been claimed.

It is estimated that there are some 1.6 million residential properties potentially liable for the household charge. As such, if collected in full, the household charge has the potential to raise €160 million annually.

The communication and advertising campaign is a matter for the LGMA and the county and city councils.

Following the 31 March payment deadline, national and local radio advertisements were undertaken to remind persons of their obligations under the household charge legislation. In particular, this campaign was aimed at reminding householders that late payment penalties applied after 31 March and that unpaid household charges and late payment penalties remain as a charge against the property concerned and will have to be discharged in the event of the transfer or sale of the property. In addition, local authorities also took local initiatives to remind persons of their obligations under the legislation. Further local and national communications and advertising will be undertaken by the LGMA and local authorities as considered appropriate.

A range of options is available for persons to pay the household charge. An online system, www.householdcharge.ie , is in place in the LGMA to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit or debit card and more than 60% of those who have paid to date have chosen to do so online. In addition, homeowners can make payment by cheque, postal order and credit or debit card by completing the relevant payment details on the declaration form and posting it to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1. Instalment payments were available by direct debit only and persons opting to pay in this way had to register their details with the LGMA before 1 March, 2012. This deadline was necessary in order to meet banking requirements for direct debit arrangements.

A range of options is available for persons to pay the household charge. An online system, www.householdcharge.ie , is in place in the LGMA to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit or debit card and more than 60% of those who have paid to date have chosen to do so online. In addition, homeowners can make payment by cheque, postal order and credit or debit card by completing the relevant payment details on the declaration form and posting it to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1. Instalment payments were available by direct debit only and persons opting to pay in this way had to register their details with the LGMA before 1 March, 2012. This deadline was necessary in order to meet banking requirements for direct debit arrangements.

A bureau is in place to administer the charge on a shared service basis. As an incentive to pay the self-assessed charge, late payment fees and late payment interest apply and any amounts due and unpaid remain as a charge against the property concerned. I am keeping the income generated from the household charge under constant review. The local authorities will be in touch with people who have not paid to date in the very near future and they will receive letters in the coming weeks indicating the need to pay the charge and the penalties and fees involved.

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