Dublin City Council meets this evening to vote on its budget for the coming year under the threat of abolition if councillors fail to reach agreement.
Last week the Minister for the Environment Mr Noel Dempsey told the council he was imposing a deadline, which runs out tonight, to adopt the budget otherwise the council will be replaced by a Government-appointed commissioner.
The main area of contention is the plan to introduce refuse charges of up to £150 per household for a wheelie-bin service.
City manager Mr John Fitzgerald has said the charges are necessary to meet the cost of the corporation's targets to recycle 60 per cent of its waste.
Refuse charges have been imposed by the majority of local authorities in the State.
A vote on the issue is set to begin at 5 p.m.