Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 524 of 14 September 2011, if any decision has been made on how the household charge will be implemented. [28039/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Further to the reply to Question No. 524 of 14 September 2011, the legislation to underpin the household charge will contain the precise details of the charge and will be published and brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly.

It is intended that the legislation will provide that the household charge will be administered on a self assessment basis and it will be a matter for owners of residential property to register and pay the charge by the due date. In the event of non-payment, penalties will apply and unpaid household charges will remain as a charge against the property concerned.

I recognise that the charge, although modest at €100, represents an additional cost for homeowners and it is proposed to facilitate homeowners by allowing it to be paid in four instalments.

Similar to the charge on non-principal private residences, an online system is being developed by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to enable homeowners pay the household charge by credit card/debit card. In addition, homeowners will be able to make payments by cheque, postal order, etc through the post to the LGMA. A bureau will be established in the LGMA to administer the charge on a shared service/agency basis for all local authorities.