Children allowed one free flush and a shower

Children will be allowed just one free shower and one toilet flush a day under revised water allowances ahead of the introduction of charges next year.

The opposition has accused the Government of providing misleading figures before the May elections when the Taoiseach told the Dáil that children would go free and the average charge would be €240 per household.

The energy regulator admitted yesterday that this average includes holiday homes without occupants and the cost for a family of two adults and two children will be at least €279.