Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter regarding exemptions from the household charge and water charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22408/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. 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 to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of 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 established an independently chaired Inter-Departmental expert Group to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the full property tax as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the structure and modalities of the full property tax.

In relation to water pricing, Irish Water, which will assume the operation of water services from local authorities, will be required to have a range of options in place to assist householders who have difficulties in paying their bills. For example, a wide range of flexible payment options are available for the other utility services and it is expected that these will be replicated for water services. The Regulator will address affordability issues, including in respect of persons with medical conditions, in consultation with my Department and the Department of Social Protection in the context of developing a water pricing framework.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in Waterford city and county that are liable for the household charge and the number that have paid this charge to date. [22425/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. 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 to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The information requested is set out in the table under.

It must also be noted that there are an estimated 183,500 household charge declarations which have been made through the post and over the counter in local authority offices that have yet to be processed. These declarations are therefore not included in this table and a county/city breakdown is not yet available in respect of them. In addition, 15,336 declarations have been received where a waiver from payment of the household charge is claimed and these declarations are not included in the figures.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in Waterford city and county who have registered for the non principal private residence. [22426/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The number of properties in respect of which the non-principal private residence (NPPR) charge has been paid as of 1 May, 2012 is set out in the following table. Owners of residential property liable to the charge have up to 30 June, 2012 to pay the 2012 NPPR and avoid the application of late payment fees.