Public pay deal ‘will bring rates increase’

THE Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) says €220m benchmarking payments to local authority employees across the country will be paid for by greater rates and charges for businesses.

It says that because the Government is not funding the pay rises to council workers directly, local authorities will have to find the money themselves and this will mean higher rates.

The CCI says this will inevitably lead to jobs losses as companies will not be able to continue to pay higher charges.