Irish Water’s €370m plan to eradicate lead pipes from the public water system could be money down the drain as householders refuse to budge on fulfilling their end of the deal.

Up to 100,000 illegal and potentially deadly gas boilers have been installed by ‘cowboy’ operators in family homes over the past five years, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

A protest by gas installers and plumbers will take place outside the Dáil today to highlight the number of unregistered people working in the sector.

Bord Gáis has been accused of posing a health and safety risk by excluding independent contractors from accessing a billing system that allows customers to spread the cost of putting in new central heating systems over a lengthy period.

Families are being forced into paying too much for gas installations because of a deal struck by Bord Gais, it has been claimed today.