Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 188: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if local authorities are sending out notifications to advise when payment is due in respect of the non-principal private residence, NPPR, charge; if notifications were sent out for 2010; if it is standard procedure for local authorities to send out reminders when the NPPR charge is due; if there is a system in place to send out notices to person's to advise of the imminent NPPR, and if there is any obligation on the local authorities to issue these reminders. [38280/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government in the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. The Act places the onus on the owner to assess his or her liability in the first instance and there is no obligation on local authorities to issue invoices or demands. Any such obligation would increase the administrative and resource requirements of implementing the charge and would make its collection less cost-effective. As the charge is set at an essentially modest rate of €200 per annum, it is essential that administrative costs be kept to a minimum.

However, I understand that anybody who paid the charge last year and provided an e-mail address has been sent an e-mail reminder in respect of possible liability in 2010. In addition, a number of local authorities have separately sent reminders to property owners registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).