Dublin householders face higher waste charges while shops and businesses will have to pay increased rates, the city management has said.
The proposed waste charges for next year include an €80 standing charge for a standard wheelie bin. This is payable quarterly.
In addition, there is to be a €5 charge each time the bin is emptied. With 52 collections, the maximum annual charge will be €340. The current annual charge is €195.
The new charging system is intended to encourage people to recycle more of their household waste.
According to the council, the city's recycling facilities are such that most households would be able to reduce their bills if they recycled more of their domestic refuse and therefore needed to have their bins collected less often.
The city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, said early discussions with councillors, who must approve the estimates, were more positive than in previous years.
However, the council acknowledged that it would still be subsidising waste collection, recouping just 80 per cent of the cost. As the council is obliged under the waste management regulations to move towards recouping the full cost from its customers, further increases are likely in the coming years.
It will cost €1.71 billion to run and improve Dublin city next year - the highest annual estimate to date.
The figures include €710 million in day-to-day running costs, to be financed by an increase of almost 10 per cent, to €229 million, in the amount of money raised from commercial rates; €177 million from the Local Government Fund and State grants, and €309 million in charges for goods and services.
In addition to the day-to-day running costs, the council also plans about €1 billion in capital spending on housing, roads, water services - including flood relief - recreational facilities and urban renewal.
Of the day-to-day financing for next year the largest single provision, at €203 million, is for environmental protection - including waste management.
The next highest item is housing and buildings, which includes a refurbishment programme for council homes, for which almost €185 million has been allocated.
This is followed by roads, transport and safety, which account for just over €92 million.
In 2005 the Government is expected to give €87 million through the Local Government Fund and €90.2 million in grants. The total Government funding is, however, about €52 million less than the contribution by 28,000 ratepayers in Dublin city who will contribute €229 million in 2005.
The traders' contribution represents an increase of 9.6 per cent, which is well in excess of inflation, and they are most likely to suffer additional increases through waste charges.
