More than 160 allowances for existing local authority workers are set to be cut after the Department of the Environment said it was surprised at having discovered hundreds of unknown perks for staff.

The final cost of the Mahon Tribunal is likely to be €200m, according to an estimate provided by the planning inquiry to the Government.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has caved in to demands to allow people pay the €100 household tax at post offices.

The final cost of the Mahon Tribunal could top €250m and see lawyers and witnesses claim fees for years to come.

THE Department of the Environment is still in the dark about what became of €200,000 it paid into a “dubious” bank account managed under the umbrella of SIPTU.

CASH-strapped local authorities have been forced to store away €1.2 billion of development levies which could be used for public services like water and parks because of how the Government is applying EU budget rules.

A COUNCIL house in Cork aity has been left empty for at least 14 years despite more than 6,491 individuals and families in the city on a waiting list for a social home.

BUILDERS are likely to walk away without paying a combined €850 million in development levies owed to cash-strapped local authorities after the Department of Environment asked for “relative flexibility” in dealing with the debts.

DEVELOPERS owed €800 million to cash-strapped local authorities in overdue levies at the end of 2008 – a jump of €668m on the amount due at the height of the boom.

DEVELOPERS owed €800 million to cash-strapped local authorities in overdue levies at the end of 2008.

THE Department of the Environment has assigned blame for prolonged pollution problems in drinking water supplies to local authorities for failing to take priority actions.

ALMOST €132 million is owed to local authorities nationwide by builders in unpaid development contributions, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) heard yesterday.

A new think-tank has been established to develop an action plan to overhaul the public services.

THE costs for specialised building projects will be raised after legal wrangling over a Limerick sewerage scheme landed taxpayers with an €83 million bill, the Environment Minister has been warned in a private report.

THE Department of Environment’s head has admitted she would follow the same course of action again which was taken when a €9 million Limerick sewage pipe job ended up costing the taxpayer €83m.

THE opening of retail giant Ikea’s first Irish store could be delayed by up to a year because contractors for the National Roads Authority (NRA) will not finish access roads for customers on time.

THE Government’s financial watchdog is set to raise concerns over hidden costs for the Mahon Tribunal as the inquiry’s bills have now reached nearly €73 million.