Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that householders living in estates (details supplied) in Dublin 13 will be exempt from paying the household charge and excluded from paying any prospective property related taxes for at least seven to ten years in view of the fact that both estates have been significantly affected by pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48668/12]

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.

An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable Local Property Tax to replace the Household Charge.

The Group submitted its report and proposals will be brought to Government as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the exact details of implementation taking into account the modalities involved. The Government has decided that the Local Property Tax will be collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners.

I have published the report of the independent Pyrite Panel which 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 ax, including the exemptions which may apply.