Rewards for councils who ‘pull out all the stops’

Rewards for local authorities to track down the 800,000 households who refused to pay the €100 levy will be finalised this week.

Just half of the estimated 1.6m homeowners made Saturday’s deadline, with ministers blaming local councils for the massive shortfall.

The Government stands to rake in an extra €9m with penalties from late payments as homeowners have to pay an extra €11 from this week on top of the €100 charge.