Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the non-principal private residence charge is being levied on units rather than on individual properties; if he regards this as a disincentive to investment in property portfolios; his views that this is a burden on owners of more than one property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23788/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government decided in 2009 to broaden the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge of €200 on all non-principal private residences. The charge is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole or main residence.

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the detail of the charge, defines residential property as including flats, apartments and bedsits. The charge is payable in respect of each unit of accommodation used, or suitable for use as a separate dwelling, whether or not any amenity or facility in the building or premises may be shared. The owner of a house split into a number of residential units is thus liable for the charge on each unit in that house.The view was taken when the Bill was being debated in the Oireachtas that this was the fairest approach. I have no plans at present to amend the charge on non-principal private residences in this respect.