Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Jan O’Sullivan.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Rent arrears at date specified
Town Councils 1st Jan 2008 1st Jan 2009 1st Jan 2010
Tullamore 225,178 278,839 286,000
Westport 3 0 0 16,339
Wexford 236,181 199,520 205,715
Wicklow 26,489 11,916 715
Youghal 3 0 0 0
Total (3) 3,297,810 4,025,998 4,308,260
Totals (1+2+3) 32,853,875 39,527,605 50,835,300
1
2008 data not available.
2 Included in county return.
3 Not available.
Household Charge
453. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government the position regarding property owners who have leased their properties to the
local authority under the rental accommodation scheme; if these property owners are liable for
the household charge and the non principal private residence charge; and if he will make a
statement on the matter. [8163/12]
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
(Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the
legislative basis for the household charge and that Act also amended the Local Government
(Charges) Act 2009 which provides the legislative basis for the charge on non-principal private
residences. The 2011 Act has ceased the exemption from payment of the non-principal private
residences charge in respect of properties in the rental accommodation scheme with effect from
1 January, 2012. Such properties are also liable to the household charge, unless otherwise
entitled to an exemption or a waiver.
Question No. 454 answered with Question No. 436.
Question No. 455 answered with Question No. 414.
Local Authority Funding
456. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government the amount that has been granted to pensioners in County Meath for home
improvements under the scheme of housing aid for older people for the years 2009, 2010, 2011
and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8176/12]
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
(Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): My Department’s involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant
Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of
a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant
schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my
Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. It is a
matter for each local authority to determine how the funding is apportioned between the various
grant measures.
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