The Department of Housing has stated that there are no current plans to introduce charges for excessive household water use.
In a statement, the department clarified that while Minister for Housing James Browne had received a briefing on the matter, no formal proposal has been presented to him, and such charges are not part of the current Programme for Government.
The minister acknowledges that discussions on the issue began under the previous government but has confirmed that he is not considering implementing water charges at this time.
Last September, Uisce Éireann introduced a Water Charges plan, allocating an annual water allowance of 213,000 litres per household, with additional allowances based on household size.
According to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, the average household in Ireland uses 125,000 litres of water per year. Homes exceeding their allocated allowance will face an excess use charge of €1.85 per 1,000 litres, capped at €250 annually for both water and wastewater services.
Currently, water supply and wastewater services remain free of charge.