Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the compliance rate for household charge payments on a county basis; the total national figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12699/13]

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. I understand, from data provided by the Agency, that as of 6 March 2013 the number of registrations, including waiver registrations, for the Household Charge is 1,167,332. I will make a table available, with the official record, detailing the total number of payments and waivers registered for the Household Charge nationally and by local authority area. 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 and now stands at over 72%. The compliance rate from local authority to local authority varies considerably, however, from 87% in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown to 61% 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 compliance avenues to the fullest to assist in funding the essential local services which are important for the well-being of every household and community.

I urge all liable persons who have not paid the Charge to visit www.householdcharge.ie or contact their local authority as a matter of urgency. Residential property owners who are unsure of their liability should also contact their local authority.

Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, Household Charge arrears for 2012 , including penalties and interest, will be capped at €130 if paid by 30 April 2013. Outstanding Household Charge liabilities will, on 1 July 2013, be increased to €200 and will be come a Local Property Tax liability collectable by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.