The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is being urged to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Environment before the end of August, to outline the decision making process behind the proposed water charges.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Environment, Barry Cowen, said: "With the consultation period on Irish Water's proposed charges due to expire at the end of August, I feel it is imperative the committee hears about its submission to the CER. We need to hear about the thought process and the reasoning behind the charges and allowances, which have so far gone unchallenged.

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"Public confidence in the CER and in Irish Water is extremely low at the moment. Government promises of the average water bill for families of €240 have been rubbished and families now face much higher average costs. The CER also needs to explain why it chose to halve the allowance for children from 38,000 litres per child per year to just 21,000."

(CD/MH)