Builder group warns of house price increases

The Irish Home Builders Association say that any increase in local authority charges next year will lead to an increase in house prices.

The association is warning of a three-fold increase in some parts of the country.

Local authorities have been warned that they have until March 2004 to put in place collecting charges or they may lose essential funding.

Director of the Irish Home Builders Association, Hubert Fitzpatrick, conceded that builders will be charged and this cost will inevitably fall on the house buyer.