Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a waiver from the household charge and forthcoming property tax for homeowners affected by pyrite until such time as their developments have been fully remediated; if this waiver will apply retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37938/12]

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 legislation underpinning the household charge. The legislation provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of the household charge. The waivers which apply concern -

- Owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement, and

- Owners of houses in certain unfinished housing estates.

While there is no specific exemption for properties affected by pyrite, the owner of a property which is not occupied or suitable for occupation on the liability date would not be liable for the household charge.

I have recently published the report of the independent Pyrite Panel. The Pyrite Report recommends that consideration be given to providing an exemption from the proposed property tax, for a set period, for dwellings where damage from pyritic heave has been proved by testing. While the Government will have regard to this recommendation as appropriate in the context of the proposed property tax legislation, no decisions have been made as yet on the details of the local property tax, including what exemptions might apply.