60% of local authorities raise rates

MORE that 60% of local authorities have increased their charges at a time when the focus of the economy should be on reducing costs, Chambers Ireland said last night.

A Chambers Ireland study found that 22 of the 34 local authorities in Ireland have increased charges. However, 12 other local authorities have opted for a 0% commercial rates increase. This data was gathered from a census of local authority charges collected by chambers throughout Ireland.

Chair of Chambers Ireland’s ratepayers council, Hilary Haydon, said: “Local authority charges such as commercial rates, water charges and development levies have been increasing year on year.