Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if all residential property owned by Government Ministers is exempt from payment of the household charge; the purpose for which Ministers are exempted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17076/12]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the residential property owned by a Minister of the Government is exempt from the household charge [17082/12]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos of 13 March relating to exemptions and waivers from payment of the household charge, in which he indicated that residential property owned by a Minister of the Government, would be exempt from household charges, if he will clarify if this relates to all residential properties owned by Ministers of the Government; and if he will provide details of the properties owned by Ministers of the Government that will be exempt. [17243/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 186 and 198 together.

Residential property held in a personal capacity by a Minister of the Government is liable for the household charge on the same basis as any other citizen in the state.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge.

The household charge is on a self assessment basis and interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts.