Car hire ‘up to 320% dearer for Christmas’

CAR rental companies jack up their prices by as much as 320% during the Christmas period, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

In the latest survey posted on its rip-off.ie website, the party contends the cost of hiring cars in Ireland during the festive period is increased to exorbitant levels.

Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said the latest survey was triggered after a complaint made to the website by a young emigrant returning from Australia for Christmas.