Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Phil Hogan.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments
to each body. In considering applications due regard is had to Government policy regarding
gender balance on State Boards. A number of different statutory processes are involved in
appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed
or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are
made by the Government or by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are
made by the Minister, or appointments are made with the consent of the Minister for Finance
or following consultation with the Minister for Finance or Minister for Education and Skills,
as appropriate.
The Boards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and An Bord Pleanála are
executive in nature and members are employed on a full time salaried basis. The appointments
as Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála and Director General of the EPA were made after competitions
held by the Public Appointments Service. The Board Members of the Housing and
Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA) have been re-appointed on an interim basis pending
enactment of legislation in respect of the HSCA.
The following members were appointed to the Board of Pobal, a not for profit company
under the aegis of my Department, by Government, and do not receive fees:
• Mr. Séamus Boland (Chair)
• Mr. Thomas Maguire
• Mr. Liam Keane
• Ms Siobhan McLoughlin
• Ms Jennifer McHugh
• Mrs. Mari Hurley
Local Authority Charges
430. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government the reason persons living in private housing estates who already pay for services
such as roads by way of estate management company charges must also pay the household
charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7837/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan):
The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland commits the Government to the
introduction of a property tax for 2012. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the
State’s overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound
financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with
the demand for such services. In light of the complex issues involved, a property tax, requiring
a comprehensive property valuation system, would take time to introduce and accordingly, to
meet the requirements in the EU/IMF Programme, the Government introduced the household
charge in 2012. The household charge is an interim measure and proposals for a full property
tax will be considered by the Government in due course.
The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government
(Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge.
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