Families get 3-month water bill reprieve

Families are to get a three-month reprieve from water charges, with the first bills due to arrive in April instead of January, as previously planned.

Government sources last night confirmed the delay in introducing the deeply unpopular charges will be part of a range of measures to be agreed at cabinet today.

Under the original plans, charges were due to kick in from the start of last month, with the first bills scheduled to land in January.