Ireland's opposition parties have attacked the government’s plans to make households pay for the installation of water meters.

Last night, Enda Kenny said people would have to pay for the meter itself, but the cost of installation would be covered by money from the National Pension Reserve Fund.

Sinn Féin environment spokesman Brian Stanley told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the money would be better spent repairing leaks on the water system and his party would vigorously oppose water charges.

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"When householders see the full effects of this being rolled out on top of what's coming in the budget in December - because bear in mind there will be €3.5/4 billion in further cuts - and other measures that the government and troika will be planning, I think householders will make up their own minds, and do what they need to do and they won't pay," he said.

He said that the government should first look at savings that can be achieved in the cost of running local government outlined in the McCarthy Report.

"I think it's fair for people to expect that if a government has a report on its desk which details savings of half a million euro per annum, that those savings should first be achieved before you impose these charges on hard-pressed families."

The Taoiseach has said that absolutely no decision has been made about the cost of the new water metering process and a decision will not be made until a report by the Department of the Environment for the Cabinet.

(H)