Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the assistance he will provide to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is not in a position to pay the household charge in a single instalment but who is willing to pay in a number of instalments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43165/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the household charge. 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 or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) administers the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The option to pay by instalments was available by direct debit only where a person had registered their details with the LGMA before 1 March 2012. This deadline was necessary in order to meet banking requirements for direct debit arrangements.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 places the collection of the charge under the care and management of the local authority concerned and specifically provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of the household charge. I am examining the possibility of introducing guidance, similar to that applying to the NPPR, under the care and management provision of the legislation.