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Labour Environment Minister Alan Kelly has said water charges are not a major issue with the voting public, and claimed people were far more concerned with employment.
The Environment Minister dismissed calls for Irish Water to be disbanded and the function returned to local councils.
"The reality is 80% of people in this country are paying for water," he said.
"When you add up the volume paying for water through Irish Water and those in rural Ireland paying for private water schemes and private wells, it comes up to 79%-80%."
He conceded the issue still came up "at the odd door".
