Environment Minister Alan Kelly has claimed that 920,000 households have now registered with Irish Water.
He has also told the Dáil that 513,000 water meters have now been installed across the country with a new one put in every 30 seconds.
He is introducing legislation in the Dáil to implement the new water charges regime - including the two-charge structure and the €100 conservation grant for every household that registers.
Minister Kelly says more legislation will be needed to impose penalties on those who refuse to pay.
"The Government package announced last month also referred to a suite of measures that would apply if households did not pay," he said.
"These will be brought forward in separate legislation early in the new year, and will be the subject of extensive stakeholder engagement and pre-legislative scrutiny."