Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons that were notified about payment of the NPPR charge in 2011; of those persons notified, the number that paid; the number that did not pay; the number that have paid including a penalty for late payment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some persons are concerned about not having received any notification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences (NPPR). The charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. The Act places the onus on an owner of a residential property which is situated in the State to assess his or her liability for the charge in the first instance.

There is no obligation on local authorities to issue notifications or invoices regarding the charge. Nationwide advertising took place in both 2009 and 2010, and again in 2011, to ensure general awareness of the charge and the liability dates. In tandem, local authorities have undertaken their own advertising campaigns locally. Communications have also been issued by local authorities and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to persons who paid the charge in respect of previous years reminding them of their possible liability for the charge.

The LGMA which is operating the NPPR on-line payment service issued 169,036 communications to NPPR owners from 19 – 26 April 2011 relating to 323,031 NPPR properties potentially liable for the 2011 charge.

From 26 April, 2011 to date, the NPPR payment was made in respect of 296,255 properties of which 29,374 also paid a late payment fee.

26,776 of those who paid in 2010 did not pay again in 2011. There are a number of valid reasons as to why a person who paid an NPPR charge in 2010 did not pay again in 2011, including where, by reason of transfer or sale, the property concerned is no longer a property that is liable to the charge under the legislation.

Significant 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.