Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his view on a matter (details supplied) regarding household charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28622/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 of a residential property to assess his or her liability to the charge in the first instance. As the charge is set at an essentially modest rate of €200 per annum, it is necessary that administrative costs be kept to a minimum. In order to keep costs to the minimum and ensure that the maximum level of revenue raised is available for the provision of local services, there is no legal obligation on local authorities to issue notifications, invoices or reminders. Any such obligation would increase the administrative and resource requirements of implementing the charge and would make its collection less cost-effective.

In practice, a number of measures are undertaken to assist collection of the charge. Nationwide advertising has taken place in each year since the introduction of the charge in 2009 to ensure general awareness of the charge and the liability dates. Some advertising on the charge was also placed in publications/newsletters circulating in areas in which large Irish populations are residing abroad. In addition, local authorities have undertaken their own advertising campaigns locally. As a shared resource, I understand that reminder notifications were issued by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and local authorities to those who paid the charge last year in respect of their possible liability for 2011.

Reasonable efforts are being made to ensure that property owners are aware of the charge and the liability dates. However, the charge is based on self assessment principles and it is a matter for persons with a liability to pay the charge by the due date to avoid late payment fees. I have no plans, at present, to amend the legislation in this regard.