Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered the use of smart meters in the context of deciding the logistics of introducing domestic water charges; if he will state if there is a possibility that smart meters will be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23514/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department has engaged with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Commissioner for Energy Regulation to examine the potential for synergies between the water metering programme and the Smart Metering programme. It is intended that these consultations will continue as the water metering programme is being further developed.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to resolve the issue whereby non principal private residence charges are being accumulated along with large late fees and penalties on many homes due to lack of awareness of this charge by property owners who would if aware from the first date payment was due would have been happy to pay. [23547/12]

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. Application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts.

There is no obligation on local authorities to issue notifications or invoices regarding the charge. Nationwide advertising has taken place each year since its introduction in 2009 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 to persons who paid the charge in respect of previous years reminding them of their possible liability for the charge.

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.

I have recently issued guidelines to local authorities in relation to the operation of the "care and management" provisions of the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 in the context of individual situations where genuine hardship in having to discharge a liability in a single payment can be demonstrated. In such cases, the guidelines set out the modalities for local authorities in entering into payment arrangements for the discharge of outstanding liabilities in instalments over a specified period.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department have contracted companies to collect outstanding household charges. [23609/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge.

Under Section 12 of the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect household charges and late payment penalties due to it and all household charges and late payment penalties imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. As such, it is entirely a matter for county and city councils to have appropriate arrangements in place for the collection of household charges and late payment penalties.