Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said that to protect vulnerable people in society, he is proposing to provide a waiver of the household charge of €100 per dwelling for those on mortgage interest supplement and those in certain categories of unfinished housing estates. Provision will also be made to allow payment of the €100 in instalments.
The household charge is set to raise €160m a year and is an interim measure pending the design and implementation of a full property tax from 2014.
The Minister also said he is initiating a consultation period with the motor industry and other interested parties to start early next year to review options for the improvement in VRT and motor tax in future years.
But in the meantime, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan will make a provision for an increase in motor tax from January 1.
Mr Noonan said this will generate about €47m in 2012 to be used for Exchequer deficit reduction proposals.
