Sinn Féin is calling on the Oireachtas to make a decision to abolish the water charges.

Spokesperson on water Eoin Ó Broin TD was speaking after information in the Water Commission report was leaked to the media.

He said: "I am disappointed but not surprised that sections of this report were leaked to the media before the final report was presented to the members of the soon to be established special committee on water charges. This shows the contempt that some in Government have for the Oireachtas.

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"I have been saying for some time that I expected the Commission to recommend a water charge regime with a more generous household allowance and waiver system. The real purpose of such a regime would be to try and get FineGael and Fianna Fail over the opposition of the majority of people who want this charge scrapped.

"If such a charging regime is introduced people should be in no doubt that over time the allowance will shrink and the waiver will be withdrawn. In the end households will end up paying at least €500 per year as originally proposed by Fianna Fáil back in 2010.

"The suspension of water charges and establishment of the Water Commission have been a waste of time and money. The €280,000 price tag on their Commission was about nothing more than enabling Fianna Fáil to facilitate Enda Kenny becoming Taoiseach."

(CD/MH)