The cost to the taxpayer of sending a select number of senior local government officials to an exclusive management course at Harvard University tops €315,000 for the past seven years, figures show.

Tens of thousands of households who still have not paid the so-called second-home tax have been warned "there is no escape".

The taxpayer has footed a €31,000 bill for sending local government officials from one county council to a management course at a US university — with the body that collects the household charge paying course fees.

The chief executive of the body collecting the household charge has insisted it is doing an “excellent job” — despite sending out warning letters demanding payment to thousands of people who have already paid.

More than €7m in household charges paid by property owners is being used to finance the agency collecting the levy, despite communities facing cuts to essential services and the closure of local facilities.

Thousands of property owners have been refunded by the agency collecting the household charge after paying twice or having been accidentally overcharged.

Dramatic coverage has been given to the views of Paul McSweeney of the Local Government Management Agency, the body charged with organising the collection of the household tax.

The head of the agency collecting the household charge revealed how he and staff have been threatened, how he received hate mail and how a shotgun cartridge was sent to a senior staff member as a death threat.

Many disgruntled property owners still refuse to pay the household charge.

The Department of the Environment has written to all county and city managers giving updated details of the sums deducted from their funding as a result of the non-payment of the €100 household charge.

The controversy over the household charge of €100 is rumbling on amidst the continuing posturing. There is no real sign of resolution.

Street lights may have to be switched off and parks closed as “extreme measures” are taken by local authorities to balance budgets because of the non-payment of the household charge.

Street lights may need to be switched off and community-run sports clubs will no longer exist if people don't comply with the household charge.

The taxpayer has had to foot a €250,000 bill for sending top local government officials on a management course at Harvard University.

Despite nearly half the country boycotting the household tax, one property speculator paid 190 times — with a cheque for €19,000.

The National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis has stated that there are actually more homes liable for the Household Charge than the Government has estimated.

The head of the Local Government Management Agency, Paul McSweeney, has said he is "immensely proud" of the group's work in a short period of time.

Rewards for local authorities to track down the 800,000 households who refused to pay the €100 levy will be finalised this week.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has said he is examining the idea of rewarding local authorities which "pull out all the stops" to collect outstanding household charge payments.

The Government has suffered an embarrassing rejection of what it says is a key condition of its agreement with the bailout troika, as almost 1m citizens are poised to defy the law and refuse to pay the €100 household charge.

The Government is being accused of "failing miserably" when it comes to convincing the public to pay the Household Charge.

All homeowners must register for the €100 household charge by next Saturday even if they are not liable for it or live in an exempt property.

The vice president of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions Mick O'Reilly has said that its not the job of local authority workers to pursue people for the Household Charge.

The number of homeowners who have registered to pay the new household charge has surpassed the 300,000 mark but remains way off the target of 1.6 million.

The number of registrations for the household charge has jumped by 25% in the past week.

A liquidator has been appointed to the companies behind Limerick furniture retailer Instore.

Some 109,569 homes have signed up for the new household charge to date, netting over €10m for the Exchequer.

HE is a native of Lismore in Waterford but manager James O’Connor could appreciate how momentous yesterday’s Cork hurling final triumph was to the people of Carrigtwohill.

ALMOST half of businesses outside Dublin are unhappy with the quality of the telecommunications infrastructure.