Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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299. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discretion available to local authorities in deciding whether or not to levy interest penalties for late payment of the non-principal private residence charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28703/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos.299 and 340 together.

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, introduced a €200 annual charge on non-principal private residences (NPPR) payable by the owners to the local authority in whose area the property concerned is located.

Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect NPPR charges and late payment fees due to it, and all charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. In this regard, application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority.

Under section 77 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 I have issued guidance to local authorities concerning matters relating to arrears of the NPPR charge and late payment fees to ensure that a consistent national approach is adopted. The guidelines encourage local authorities to take a proactive approach to ensure that any outstanding NPPR liabilities are discharged in the most equitable, efficient and economically beneficial manner. It is expected, in the majority of cases, that local authorities will collect the full NPPR charge liability from owners. In some cases, this may be by mean s of arrangement by installment.