Hain adds £1 a week to rates in the North

Ratepayers in Northern Ireland are to pay £1 (€1.46) extra a week for public services, Northern Secretary Peter Hain revealed today in the North’s budget for next year.

Domestic rates bills are to increase by 19% next year in a bid to raise an additional £20m (€29.5m) in funds for public services for each of the next two years.