Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the household charge (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides for the household charge. Owners of residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012, subject to a limited number of exemptions and waivers set out below, are liable to pay the household charge.

The exemptions from payment of the household charge are:

· Residential properties that are part of the trading stock of a business and have not been sold or been the source of any income since construction,

· Residential property owned by a Minister of the Government, a housing authority or the Health Service Executive,

· Voluntary and co-operative housing,

· Residential property subject to commercial rates and wholly used as a dwelling,

· Residential property owned by certain charities or discretionary trusts, and

· Residential property which an owner has vacated due to long-term mental or physical infirmity (e.g. elderly person that has moved into a nursing home).

The waivers which apply concern:

· Owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement, and

· Owners of houses in certain unfinished housing estates.

I have no proposals to increase the number of people who are exempt from the charge.

There is a range of options available to pay the household charge. An online system is in place in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit card/debit card or by direct debit. In addition, homeowners can make payments by cheque, postal order, etc. through the post to the LGMA. A bureau is in place in the LGMA to administer the charge on a shared service/agency basis for all local authorities. In addition, persons can attend their county/city councils to pay the household charge up to 31 March, 2012.

I am satisfied that a comprehensive suite of payment options is available to persons with a liability to pay the household charge.

Significant efforts will be made to ensure that property owners are aware of the household charge and the liability and payment dates. The LGMA and local authorities will shortly commence a national information campaign to advise people of the household charge and their responsibilities in relation to payment of the charge. A similar and successful advertising and information campaign was undertaken in the context of the €200 charge on non-principal private residences on its introduction in 2009 with further advertising taking place each year since. I am confident that those liable to the charge will be aware of their obligation to discharge their liability for the charge by 31 March 2012 and thereby avoid any late payment fees or late payment interest.