Householders in Galway city face a €70 increase in refuse collection charges next year following a decision by the City Council to adopt its annual budget for 2003.
Councillors voted by 10-2 in favour of the budget in which the council is expected to spend €62.5 million on services during the year. They also voted to increase the refuse charge from €250 to €320 for 2003.
The Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Progressive Democrats members voted in favour of both the budget and the refuse-charge increase, with the two Labour Party councillors voting against.
The city manager, Mr John Tierney, said the increase was needed to meet the cost of operating the city's three-bin waste collection system. "If somebody can find me€5 million next year there will be no charge, but that's the number we have to collect," he said. "We want to deliver on a non-profit basis and, unlike some other local authorities, we are not going to privatise."
Arson suspected in Cork house fire
A family of four in Cork had a narrow escape yesterday morning when their house was engulfed in flames in a suspected arson attack.
The alert was raised at the Riverview Estate in Blarney on the outskirts of the city shortly after 1.15 a.m. The house was completely burned out, but its four occupants, parents and two teenagers, managed to avoid injury in the incident. It took three units of Cork City Fire Brigade to bring the blaze under control.
Gardai investigating the fire report that a lighted missile was thrown through the front-room window of the house. Members of the public who may have spotted individuals acting suspiciously in the Blarney area between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. yesterday should contact gardai at 021-4385111.
Appeal for aid in finding missing man
Gardaí at Clonmel are renewing their appeal in tracing the whereabouts of 40-year-old Mr Vincent Breen of Fethard, Co Tipperary, who has been missing since December 3rd. He was last seen in the Mulcahy Park area of the town .
He is described as 5'10", 15 stone and of strong build, with dark grey hair and a beard. When last seen he was wearing a green and cream jacket, cream trousers and black shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at 052-77640 or the Garda confidential line 1800 666 111.