Donegal charges hike slammed

Pearse Doherty

Donegal Sinn Féin Councillor Pearse Doherty has said that the decision taken by the Donegal County Council to increase rates by 5% and refuse charges by 10% will be a severe burden on small businesses and households in the county.

At the annual budget meeting on Friday last, Sinn Féin proposed that rates would increase by only 4% and that there would be no increase in refuse charges. This proposal was rejected by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independent Fianna Fáil.

Sinn Féin had proposed savings in expenses for attending conferences, which it was argued, would save €500,000 over the next five years.

"If there is one lesson to be learned from Friday's meeting, it is that councillors from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independent Fianna Fáil are quite happy to increase bin charges on their electorate but when it comes to reducing their own perks they are in complete opposition," said Doherty.