Report recommends most families do not have to pay water charges

The report of an expert group on water charges has been released - with the recommendation that most families should not have to pay.

The expert group says the "normal domestic and personal needs" of most citizens should be be provided free - and users should only pay for "excessive or wasteful use".

It also says a special Oireachtas committee should be set up to look at whether a referendum should be held to stop Irish Water being sold.

But the report doesn't say whether another tax should be introduced to cover the cost - saying that is up to the government.

Although the current set of charges were introduced by Labour's Alan Kelly, the party says the findings are exactly what it hoped for.

Its housing spokesperson is Jan O'Sullivan:

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