€1bn in extra charges to hit household budgets this year

CELTIC Tiger-style living standards will be heavily hit from the start of the year as the Government gets ready to rake in more than €1 billion in new charges.

The biggest raid on household cash flow will be the budget’s 1% levy on incomes up to €100,000, which will deliver several hundred million euro into the exchequer’s coffers.

Hikes are also planned in Luas fares from January 5 and the cost of taking the bus or the train are also expected to rise.