Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, has announced new capped water charges, and stated that the "absolute maximum net cost is now just €3 per week … Much less than one per cent of most people’s incomes or benefits and puts water bills among the lowest in Europe".

The minister confirmed charges will be capped until 2019, with families of two adults paying €160, and single adult households paying €60.

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He also stated:

• properties that require just one of the water supply or sewage services will pay 50 per cent of the rates.

• PPS numbers will no longer be required for registration

• the starting date for domestic water charging will be 01 January, with first bills to issue from the in April

• customers who fail to pay a bill or enter into a payment plan face late payment penalties of €30 (single adult household) and €60 in other cases. This will be added to bills three months following a year of non-payment.

The water charges will come into effect on 1st January 2015 and the first bills will be produced in April.

(MH/CD)