Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make appropriate arrangements with the Department of Communications, Energy and natural Resources in order that the household charge may be paid at all local post offices. [5458/12]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will facilitate the payment of the household charge through the post office system, which would accommodate many persons in rural areas in effecting their payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5568/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 470 together.

There is a range of options available for persons to pay the household charge. An online system, www.householdcharge.ie, is in place in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit/debit card or in four instalments by direct debit. In addition, homeowners can make payment by cheque, postal order, credit/debit card or in four instalments by direct debit by completing the relevant payment details on the declaration form and posting it to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1. Instalment payments are available by direct debit only and persons opting to pay in this way must register their details by 1 March, 2012.

A bureau is in place in the LGMA to administer the charge on a shared service/agency basis for all local authorities. In addition, all county/city councils have been requested to have arrangements in place for persons to attend their principal offices to pay the household charge up to 31 March, 2012.

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