Parties divided over whether water fees should be refunded

There is division between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on whether the two thirds of households who have paid water charges should be entitled to refunds.

An Oireachtas Committee will begin examining the issue next week after an expert commission on water this week recommended most households get water for free while excessive use is charged.

But it remains unclear what will happen to the money collected from people who previously paid bills or whether those who did not pay charges will instead be pursued in the courts.