837,000 households register for water charges

837,000 households register for water charges.

Just over half of the total number of households expected to be customers of Irish Water have now registered with the utility.

Irish Water says 837,000 households have registered for water charges.

The company estimates its customer base at about 1.5 million households.

A spokesperson for Irish Water said there had been a big increase in the numbers of households registering over the past week.

The spokesperson said the 2 February deadline for registration was designed to ensure that people would receive accurate bills, when billing begins in April, and to ensure that people are eligible to apply for the water conservation grant.

However, the spokesperson said Irish Water would continue to accept registrations after 2 February.

Irish Water declined to comment on today's anti-water charges demonstrations, however a spokesperson said the company fully respected people's right to peaceful protest.

A spokesperson for the minister for the environment has said there will be absolutely no change in the Government's position on water.

"We have listened to people's concerns and addressed them and people have certainty, clarity and affordability for charges," he said.

The spokesperson added a recent EPA report, highlighting problems in our water system, underlines the need for a new investment model for Irish Water.

Source : RTE 02/02/2015