Clare County Council has commenced issuing reminder letters to householders identified by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) as being liable for the Household charge.

The letters being issued are based on information taken from the Property Registration Authority compiled by the LGMA.

All owners of residential property in Ireland are liable for the household charge on each residential property they own, as at 1st January 2012. The Government has said that revenues from the Household Charge will be forwarded to the Exchequer, and will be later distributed to Local Authorities throughout Ireland to support the provision of local services such as public parks, libraries, open spaces and leisure amenities, planning and development, fire and emergency services; and street cleaning and lighting.

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Niall Barrett, Head of Finance, Clare County Council, explained: "69% of householders in Clare have so far paid the Household Charge, representing one of the higher compliance rates in comparison to the 33 other local authority areas. The responsibility is on all residential property owners to pay. The amount now due including late payment fees and interest is €127 per property and this amount will continue to increase on the 1st of each month per property until the charge is paid."

Mr. Barrett explained that the LGMA has carried out a comparison between the data on the Property Registration Agency database and those that have registered and paid, or obtained a waiver, in relation to the Household Charge.

(CD/GK)