Delay to water bills as just half sign up

Households look likely to get a brief reprieve in paying their first water charge bills as figures show that less than half of homes have so far signed up with Irish Water.

The first water bills for households could now be delayed by a month after a request by Irish Water for extra time to get people to hand over their personal details.

The energy regulator is set to announce on Friday that people will be given the extra month — until the end of November — to return their packs to Irish Water and “validate” their details.