Dublin street traders are facing up to a six-fold increase in the cost of their annual casual trading licences.
A report to Dublin City Council says the current fees for the 200-plus casual trading locations have to be recast on a "more realistic basis".
It says that when trading pitches were designated following the passing of the 1995 Casual Trading Act, fees were set at semi-nominal sums. Now with inspectors and office staff hired to manage the pitches, it is considered "timely to recast the fees on a more realistic basis", according to the report.
The report proposes increasing the six-day licence for flower-selling pitches in Coles Lane and Middle Abbey Street from €150 to €1,000. Six-day licences for flower sellers in locations such as Moore Street, Marlborough Street, Thomas Street and Fade Street, and seven-day licences on Finglas Road and outside Mount Jerome Cemetery in Harold's Cross, would jump from €150 to €750.
For "premium" pitches in places such as Chatham Street, the fee would double to €2,000.