
The leader of Sinn Féin has dismissed suggestions his party was to blame for the delay in water charge refunds.

It is now expected to go through before the end of the month, which will enable Irish Water to start issuing cheques but it's unlikely they'll all be sent before the Christmas deadline.

The Government must advance a referendum to ensure water infrastructure remains in public ownership, according to Labour spokesperson on Water Jan O’Sullivan.

Water charge refunds should be delayed until next year to make sure the health service is funded through the winter, the Labour leader Brendan Howlin said today.

Latest: The Green Party leader believes some people will not want their refund from Irish Water.

A €270m payment to Irish Water had no connection to the fact water charges were scrapped, the Government has claimed.

Latest: Irish Water has apologised after a second major water pipe burst in just over a week, cutting off supply to up 10,000 households and businesses.

Irish Water says it "sincerely regrets" the inconvenience caused to thousands of people in the North East because of a burst pipe.

Irish Water has said that it will cost up to €3m to completely replace a burst water main in the North East.

Latest: Fully replacing a mains pipe that burst triggering the water supply crisis in Louth and Meath could cost three million euro and take 18 months, Irish Water has said.

Latest: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that refunds of water charges will not be deducted to account for the water conservation grant.

The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy has said it is his job to make sure people get their refunds of water charges.

Almost a million households who paid their water charges can expect to get their money back this Autumn.

Update 6.47pm: Former Tánaiste Joan Burton has denied that she was “relaxed” in the car in which she was allegedly falsely imprisoned during a water charges protest.