State to use utility bills to trace levy dodgers

The Government is to use utility bills to track down anyone who refuses to pay the €100 household charge.

The Data Protection Commissioner and Government officials are finalising rules to allow bills be used to trace levy dodgers after weeks of discussions.

Just 12% of the 1.6m households liable for the charge have paid it but many are expected to pay closer to the Mar 31 deadline.

A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Phil Hogan said he was anxious to have the agreement of commissioner Billy Hawkes before accessing third party information.

The commissioner was concerned when the Government announced that it would be using utility bills to identify people when the household charge legislation was introduced last December.

Mr Hawkes first met Mr Hogan last January to discuss the matter.

Personal information held by the ESB, Revenue, the Department of Social Protection or local authorities will be used to identify people.

Local authorities already hold information on people who have paid the second home tax.

The spokeswoman said the minister wanted to have access to the names, addresses and PPS numbers of people so he knew where the defaulters were.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides for a number of offences for anyone who refuses to pay before the deadline.

Late payment interest and fees will apply to those who do not pay. Interest is calculated at 1% a month, while fees of up to 30% of the amount outstanding will be charged.

Alan Shatter, the justice minister, is making changes to the Fines Act that will allow fines to be deducted at source.

The Fines Amendment Bill is expected to be published this year.

The spokeswoman said the department may begin by using ESB data to send letters to those liable for the charge.

The minister has also warned local authorities that they will have to find some way of raising additional revenue themselves if payment of the household charge did not reach its target.

He said the Government had no more money and if the €160m was not paid into the household fund, services would be affected.