Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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509. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of public notices taken out by his Department or local councils to inform people of their liability to the non-principal private residence charge since its introduction and during its lifetime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35751/14]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge of €200 per annum, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.

My Department undertook an initial media campaign when the NPPR charge was first introduced in 2009. This campaign included press advertisements in the Irish Independent, Irish Times, Irish Examiner and The Star in July 2009 along with advertisements on RTÉ Radio in September and October 2009. Nationwide advertising has also taken place in each year since the introduction of the charge under the auspices of the local authorities to ensure general awareness of the charge and the liability dates. In addition, local authorities have undertaken their own advertising campaigns locally. As this is a matter for the local authorities themselves, detailed information of such advertising is not available in my Department.

The NPPR Project Board, in conjunction with individual local authorities, undertook a media campaign this year aimed at reminding non-compliant owners that additional late payment penalties applied after 31 August 2014. The extensive radio and print media campaign reminded non-compliant owners of their obligations to come forward to regularise their affairs and to take advantage of this once-off grace period. It is my view that reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that property owners have been aware of the Charge and liability dates. It is a necessary principle of law that all citizens are required to be aware of relevant legal obligations and duties.

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