Huge hike in service charges on way

HOUSEHOLDERS and businesses face a major hike in service charges next year to fund the €277 million rise in public servants’ pay.

Fine Gael claims this is first layer of local taxes being introduced by Environment Minister Martin Cullen.

More than 35,000 local authority workers are due a 20% pay rise sanctioned by the Government next year, but the minister will not give councils any extra money to finance this.