Written answers

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Local Authority Charges

9:00 pm

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14457/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January, 2012 to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, that person is required to declare that liability by completing the household charge declaration form and to pay the household charge by 31 March, 2012.

Significant efforts are being made to ensure that property owners are aware of the household charge and the requirements to make a declaration of liability and to pay the charge by 31 March, 2012. 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. In addition, homeowners can make payment by cheque, postal order, credit/debit card by completing the relevant payment details on the declaration form and posting it to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1.

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. An Post is assisting in broadening the number of local outlets where the household charge declaration form is available. The declaration form will be available outside the counter in the network of 1,152 local post offices. Persons may complete the declaration and forward it to the central payment bureau at Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1.

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

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role of executors of wills which include property with regard to payment of the household charge. [14459/12]

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address by legislation or any other means available to him the iniquitous situation whereby those who act as executors to wills and who are charged with selling a home on behalf of a deceased person's estate are required to pay the household charge on that house; if he will provide an exemption in such cases and, furthermore, if he will provide an exemption in respect of the application of the non-principal private residence charge to the executor in cases in which he or she owns their own family home. [14468/12]

Photo of John LyonsJohn Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the liability for payment of the household and non-principal private residence charge for those acting as executors of wills who are charged with selling a house on behalf of a deceased person; his views on whether, in such circumstances, this charge should be waived or deferred until the sale of the house is completed and then taken from the moneys received from the sale. [14473/12]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give consideration to introducing a waiver for the household charge and non-principal private residence levy, repayable upon house sale, to persons who have been appointed as executors and assumed responsibility for disposing of a deceased person's house, considering that such executors assume liability, among other charges, for the household charge and the NPPR levy and are finding difficulty in selling the house in the current property market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14481/12]

Photo of Dominic HanniganDominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider a change in legislation in relation to the household charge and the non-principal private residence charge in order that persons acting as executors of wills who are charged with selling a house on behalf of a deceased person are exempted from paying the household charge and NPPR charge until the house is sold; if it can then be allowed for them to make payment for the outstanding charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14568/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 129, inclusive and 135 together.

I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 378, 380, 381, 382, 386, 394, 405, 410, 417, 418 and 419 of 13 March 2012, which sets out the position in this matter.

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount An Post will be paid for facilitating the receipt of payments of the household charge on behalf of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14487/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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An Post is assisting in broadening the number of local outlets where the household charge declaration form is available. The declaration form will be available outside the counter in the network of 1,152 local post offices. Persons may complete the declaration and forward it to the central payment bureau at Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1. An Post is not being paid for facilitating the making available of the declaration forms at the local post office network.

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