City rates and refuse charges set to increase

RATES, refuse and water charges may have to increase in Cork next year if Central Government again cuts its funding to Ireland’s largest local authority.

The warning came from county manager Martin Riordan who said the council would be just about able to balance its book for the remainder of this year, but 2010 could be a different proposition.

Mr Riordan said prudent housekeeping had enabled the council keep its head above water, despite major cuts in road funding and the Local Government Grant it received this year.