Businesses face rates hike as town councils abolished

Businesses in several Co Cork towns are likely to face a significant rise in their rates when town councils are abolished next year.

The running of 11 towns, which currently have their own councils, is to be taken over by Cork County Council, which has higher rate charges.

In some cases the council’s charges can be as much as 20% more than town councils and it’s planned to standardise rates throughout the county post-2014.