Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the payment for 2011 is due in respect of the non-principal private residence charge; if payment notices will be issued in 2011 to those who paid the charge in 2010; if he will be placing further requirements upon local authorities and other agencies to approach the administration of this charge in a standard method; the reason persons wait a number of months before receiving notices for overdue payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43615/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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. There is a single liability date in each calendar year and the Act provides, at section 3(2), that this is 31 March in 2010 and subsequent years.

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 in 2009 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). As the Act places collection of the charge under the care and management of the relevant local authority, any contact made by a local authority with those who may be potentially liable for the charge is a matter for that individual local authority.