More than 700 homeowners have paid the new €100 household charge since its introduction on January 1.
The board overseeing the running of the charge revealed the figures just days after its introduction.
The charge of €100 was announced in the Budget and must be paid before the end of March.
An online system - www.householdcharge.ie - has been set up allowing homeowners to register their households and to make payment with a credit or debit card. To sign up all you need is your PPS Number and your property’s address. Payment can also be made by cheque, postal order or at local authority offices.
The Government says the household charge is an interim measure and that a comprehensive and equitable valuation-based property tax will be introduced in about a year's time.
In a statement on the household charge website, the government said: “The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland commits the Government to the introduction of a property tax for 2012. We are one of the last countries in Europe that does not fund local services through local property-based charges. These services are essential to your community.
“They include: fire and emergency services; maintenance and cleaning of streets; planning and development; public parks; street lighting; libraries; open spaces and leisure amenities. These facilities benefit everyone.
“A property tax, requiring a comprehensive property valuation system, would take time to introduce and accordingly, to meet the requirements in the EU/IMF Programme, the Government has decided to introduce a Household Charge in 2012.The Household Charge is an interim measure only and a comprehensive and equitable valuation-based property tax will be introduced as soon as possible.”
