Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the latest registration figures by local authority area of the household charge and the respective target figures for compliance in each local authority area. [53899/12]

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 is liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. It is a matter for an owner of a residential property to determine liability and pay the Charge. The Local Government Management Agency is administering the Household Charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils.

The target is to maximise the yield from the Household Charge in all areas. The attached table details the total number of payments and waivers registered for the Household Charge nationally and by local authority area , as of 29 November 2012. The figures are also presented as a percentage of the estimated total number of liable properties nationally and per local authority area.

Overall, compliance continues to grow. The compliance rate from local authority to local authority varies considerably, however, from 85% in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown to 55% in Donegal. It is a matter for each individual local authority to use the provisions of the legislation, combined with their local knowledge and judgement, to increase compliance. I expect that local authorities will use the available avenues to the fullest to help fund the services which are important for the wellbeing of every household and community. The legislation empowers local authorities to bring and prosecute summary proceedings for an offence under the Act and local authorities will pursue those who may have a liability and initiate court proceedings where it is considered appropriate. I urge all liable persons who have not paid the Charge to contact their local authority as a matter of urgency. Property owners who are unsure of their liability should also contact their local authority.