New measures contained in the Finance Bill will leave householders' pockets even lighter.
The new bill proposes:
- An extension of the new carbon tax that will see a tank full of domestic heating oil rise by €43, domestic gas prices rise by an average of €41 a year and price rises for coal and peat
- The ... winding down of mortgage interest relief, although there is an extension until 2018 for its final abolition
- A rise in tolls by a fifth on the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel
- Abolition of tax relief on bin collection charges worth €80 a year
Not only that but bin collections by local authorities will rise by 13.5pc from July as county councils will have to pay VAT for the first time. Car parking, swimming pools, the hiring of sports facilities and commercial water provision are also subject to the addition of VAT of between 13.5% and 21%.
The new measures were announced prior to the AGM dinner of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night where Brian Cowen said in his speech, "Sacrifices need to be made... as citizens we have an obligation to pull together in times of uncertainty... we should be prepared to look beyond our self-interest... We are going to come through it. Recessions end."
Have your say:
- The New Finance Bill: Can we afford any more household charges just two months after a savage Budget cut public sector pay and reduced social welfare payments?
